What is ataxia

According to the National Ataxia Foundation: "ataxia means clumsiness of movement or loss of coordination that is not a result of muscle weakness"

And the National Institute of Neurological Disorders:

"Ataxia often occurs when parts of the nervous system that control movement are damaged. People with ataxia experience a failure of muscle control in their arms and legs resulting in lack of balance and coordination or a disturbance of gait"

Webster's Dictionary:

"lack of order; confusion; and inability to coordinate voluntary muscle movements symptomatic of some nervous disorders"

Wikipedia:

"lack of order; it is a neurological sign and symptom consisting of gross incoordination of muscle movements . . . a specific clinical manisfestation implying dysfunction of part of the nervous system that coordinates movement, such as cerebellum"

There are many types of ataxia; and although more is discovered each year about ataxia, it is considered a rare disorder.

Ataxia is broken into two distinct groups: hereditary, of which there are twenty-five currently identified; and sporadic, which are not caused by gene defect but possibly any number of other causes.

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