So here is a paper I found today. The number of people studied was small, but it is a definite affirmation of what I have been saying over and over . . . talk to your doctor and get yourself on a treadmill . . . with an assisted device if needed!
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In this study the researchers attached a harness to the patients and made them exercise on a treadmill. The harness kept the patients safe from falling and alleviated some of the weight as well. As I mentioned the study was very small in size and the patients only went twice a week for 10 weeks, but even so there was enough improvement in gait and general conditioning to make the researchers want to try a larger and longer study.
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I imagine it boils down to whether or not medical insurance would pay for such therapy, but to me if I was a SCA patient that couldn't use a treadmill at home safely, I'd sure be interested in getting a doctor's prescription to try exercising on a treadmill with a harness.
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Partial Body Weight-Supported Treadmill Training in Spinocerebellar Ataxia