The Wijit is a wheel with a lever drive, gears, and brakes that replaces the wheel on a manual wheelchair. They can be installed on most manual wheelchairs. This device allows the person in the wheelchair to drive, break and stop without touching the wheels. It also improves cardiovascular health which is difficult to achieve with […]
Until recently Neuro-Rehabiliation Services in Ireland were provided in an ad-hoc fashion and services seem to vary in different parts of the country. It is very difficult to establish what services are available for children and adults with Friedreich’s Ataxia.This may be partly due to the rarity of the condition but is also as a […]
Over the past number of months several people have approached us asking about the services that are provided for Sam. That got us thinking. After consulting with other families it seems that the physical therapy services for people with Friedreich’s Ataxia in Ireland are random and somewhat haphazard. Some people have regular physiotherapy, others have […]
The current issue of the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s (MDA) Quest Magazine includes an interesting and informative article on Friedreich’s Ataxia. As well as including facts about FA there is an update on current research. This is followed by interview with neurologist Susan Perlman, a specialist in the field of FA over the last 30 years […]
Today Sam had his first therapeutic horse riding lesson. Accompanied by his older brother Ben, both boys had their first experience of sitting on a horse. We were all a little nervous, especially when we saw the size of the horses up close but once they were in the saddle everyone began to relax. They […]
A recent study by Ilg et al examined the effectiveness of a 4-week intensive coordinative training for 16 patients with progressive ataxia (4 participants had Friedreich’s Ataxia). Significant improvements in motor performance and a reduction of ataxia symptoms were observed in clinical scores after training and were sustained at follow-up assessment. The study concludes that […]