COORDINATION DISORDERS

Coordination disorders often result from malfunction of the cerebellum, the part of the brain that coordinates voluntary movements and controls balance.

• The cerebellum malfunctions, causing loss of coordination.
• Often, people cannot control their arms and legs, making them take wide, unsteady steps when they walk.
• Doctors base the diagnosis on symptoms, family history, magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, and often genetic testing.
• The cause is corrected if possible, and if it cannot be, treatment focuses on relieving symptoms.

The cerebellum is the part of the brain most involved in coordinating sequences of movements. It also controls balance and posture. Anything that damages the cerebellum can lead to loss of coordination (ataxia). However, Many other disorders can also cause loss of coordination.

CAUSES

The leading cause of coordination disorders is

• Prolonged, excessive alcohol use, which permanently damages the cerebellum.
• Stroke and multiple sclerosis are also common causes of coordination disorders.
• Less commonly, other disorders, such as an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), vitamin E deficiency, and brain tumors, cause coordination disorders. Some hereditary disorders, such as Friedreich ataxia, cause loss of coordination.
• Rarely, in people with cancer (especially lung cancer), the immune system malfunctions and attacks the cerebellum—an autoimmune reaction. This disorder, called subacute cerebellar degeneration, results in loss of coordination.
• Certain drugs (such as antiseizure drugs), especially when they are given in high doses, can cause coordination disorders. In such cases, the disorder may disappear when the drug is stopped.

SYMPTOMS

Loss of coordination prevents people from being able to control the position of their arms and legs or their posture. Thus, when they walk, they take wide steps and stagger and make broad, zigzag movements with their arms when they reach for an object.

Coordination disorders can cause other abnormalities, such as the following:

• Ataxia: Coordination is lost. People may be unsteady when they walk and take wide steps. They may need to hold onto furniture and walls to move about.
• Dysmetria: People cannot control the range of body movements. For example, in attempting to reach for an object, people with dysmetria may reach beyond the object.
• Dysarthria: Speech is slurred, and fluctuations in volume cannot be controlled because speech muscles are uncoordinated. Movement of the muscles around the mouth may be exaggerated.
• Scanning speech: People speak in a monotone with a tendency to hesitate at the beginning of a word or syllable.
• Nystagmus: When glancing at an object, the eyes may overshoot their target, and/or nystagmus may occur. In nystagmus, the eyes repeatedly move rapidly in one direction, then return a little more slowly to their original position.
• Tremor: Damage to the cerebellum can also cause a tremor when people attempt a purposeful movement, such as reaching for an object (intention tremor), or when people try to hold a limb outstretched in one position (postural tremor).

Muscle tone may decrease.

HOMOEOPATHIC APPROACH

Homoeopathy today is a rapidly growing system and is being practiced all over the world. It strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual through promotion of inner balance at mental, emotional, spiritual and physical levels. When  is concerned there are many effective medicines available in Homoeopathy , but the selection depends upon the individuality of the patient , considering mental and physical symptoms

Few homoeopathic medicine can be thought of in the treatment of coordination disorder are:

Gelsemium, cocculus, cimicifuga, rhus tox., agaricus, etc.