Product information and disease description Place of product in therapy Approaches to treatment Current treatment options and standard of care

Physical, occupational, and speech therapy

5 evidence topics · 5 sources

Guideline position on rehabilitation therapy

“Importantly, the treatment of motor problems should be multidisciplinary, foremost consisting of intensive support from a rehabilitation physician and allied health care professionals, only sometimes combined with drug therapy.” (opens the source at this quote in a new tab)
“Multidisciplinary rehabilitation therapy is the cornerstone in the treatment of motor disability in ataxia-telangiectasia” (opens the source at this quote in a new tab)
“Aids that may be valuable for patients include foot orthoses, wheelchairs, standing frames, and electronic communication aids and equipment. Speech–language therapy can alleviate speech problems and dysphagia.” (opens the source at this quote in a new tab)

Expected effect of therapy and exercise on function and on neurodegeneration

“Physical, occupational and speech therapies as well as exercise may help maintain function but will not slow the course of neurodegeneration. Therapeutic exercises should not be used to the point of fatigue and should not interfere with activities of daily life.” (opens the source at this quote in a new tab)

Roles of physical therapists and speech-language therapists

“Physical therapists can provide exercises to maintain muscle strength, overall condition, and activity and to prevent joint contractures.” (opens the source at this quote in a new tab)
“When dysarthria is severe, a speech-language therapist can suggest use of communication aids (e.g., augmentative and alternative communication [AAC]) and equipment.” (opens the source at this quote in a new tab)

Physiotherapy aims and postural management in children

“The key aims of physiotherapy for children with ataxia-telangiectasia are to optimise and maintain functional activity.” (opens the source at this quote in a new tab)
“From an early age a 24-hour postural management system should be the goal.” (opens the source at this quote in a new tab)

Scoping review of nursing and allied health interventions: strength of the evidence

“Although limited, some of the evidence included within this review was specific to A-T and may, therefore, hold direct relevance to our research question: most notably, therapeutic exercise, including coordinative training, IMT, and early nutritional intervention.” (opens the source at this quote in a new tab)
“However, this review makes evidence-guided rather than evidence-based recommendations for practice given the lack of rigorous research focused on children and young people with A-T.” (opens the source at this quote in a new tab)