La Malbaie

Spastic ataxias, including Autosomal Recessive Spastic Ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay and Spastic Paraplegia 7, cause walking difficulties and balance problems that increase the risk of falls. Currently, there are no drug treatments available for these diseases, and non-drug therapies have seen limited development despite their impact on patients lives and the high societal cost of falls. This research aims to evaluate a 12-week supervised rehabilitation program designed specifically for people with spastic ataxias and to explore its effects on disease severity, implementation in clinical settings, and cost-benefits. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. The intervention group will follow a 12-week rehabilitation program with three 60-minute sessions each week, including two therapy room sessions and one aquatherapy session in an adapted pool. Exercises focus on postural control, balance, coordination, and functional mobility, with difficulty tailored by physiotherapists. The control group will continue their usual care and activities without changes. The program is supervised by physiotherapists and physiotherapy technologists in small groups to ensure safety. Throughout the 64-week study, participants will undergo various assessments including measures of ataxia severity, walking speed, balance, physical activities, muscle tone, fatigue, quality of life, and more. Biological samples such as plasma, DNA, serum, RNA, urine, and saliva will be collected. Researchers will also evaluate patient impressions of change and group feedback. This comprehensive approach will help determine the rehabilitation programs impact and gather data on long-term outcomes and safety.