Is a Lycra suit/ sensory dynamic orthosis beneficial at increasing postural stability in adults with ataxia?
Date First Published:
August 31, 2007
Last Updated:
August 31, 2007
Report by:
Joanne Ritchie, Senior Specialist Physiotherapist (Neuro-outreach therapy team, Manchester Royal Infirmary)
Search checked by:
Stasia Jezierska, Neuro-outreach therapy team, Manchester Royal Infirmary
Three-Part Question:
In [adults with ataxia] IS [a Lycra suit/sensory dynamic orthosis beneficial] AT [increasing postural stability]
Clinical Scenario:
A 59 year old lady with a 22 year history of Multiple Sclerosis where truncal ataxia is a major feature has become increasingly less able to carry out all activities of daily living. Lycra suits have been used in children with cerebral palsy where ataxia is a feature, to improve postural stability. Would the same benefit be gained in adults?
Search Strategy:
Medline 1996-13/04, CINAHL 1982-13/04, AMED 1985-13/04, EMBASE 1974-13/04, King's Fund 1979-13/04 (via dialog data star)
The Cochrane Library database was also searched
The Cochrane Library database was also searched
Search Details:
Medline,CINAHL, AMED, EMBASE, King's Fund [exp ataxia AND (Lycra suits.mp OR Lycra garments.mp OR Lycra splints.mp OR sensory dynamic orthosis.mp OR stabilizing pressure input orthosis)] LIMIT to human adults and English language.
Cochrane. Ataxia and lycra garments
Cochrane. Ataxia and lycra garments
Outcome:
There were two case study reports. Reading of the abstracts revealed that they used elastic bandages and weights, not Lycra garments on ataxic adults.
Author Commentary:
There were no relevant papers that answered the three part question.
Bottom Line:
There is no evidence base at present to support the use of lycra suits/SDO to gain postural stability in adults with ataxia.