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Movement - uncoordinated

• Overview
• Treatment

Alternative Names:

Lack of coordination; Loss of coordination; Incoordination and irregularity of voluntary movements; Coordination impairment; Ataxia; Clumsiness

Home Care:

Take safety measures around the home to compensate for difficulties in mobility that are inherent with this problem. For example, avoid clutter, leave wide walkways, and avoid throw rugs or other objects that might cause slipping or falling.

Other family members should encourage the affected person to participate in normal activities. Family members need to have extreme patience with people who suffer from poor coordination. Take time to demonstrate ways of performing tasks more simply, and taking advantage of the afflicted person's strengths while avoiding weaknesses.

Call your health care provider if:

• There is unexplained incoordination.
• Incoordination lasts longer than a few minutes.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

The medical history will be obtained, and a physical examination performed. In emergency situations, the patient will be stabilized first.

Medical history questions documenting uncoordinated movement in detail may include:

• When did it begin?
• Is it continuous or do episodes come and go?
• Is it getting worse?
• What medications are being taken?
• Is alcohol used?
• Are illegal/illicit drugs being used?
• Has there been any exposure to something that may have caused poisoning?
• What other symptoms are also present?
  • Weakness or paralysis
  • Numbness , tingling, or loss of sensation
  • Confusion or disorientation
  • Seizures

The physical examination may include detailed neurological and muscular examination.

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

• Blood tests (such as a CBC or blood differential ).
• CT scan of the head .
• MRI of the head .
• Romberg test: the patient is asked to stand erect with the feet together and the eyes closed. If the patient loses balance, this indicates a loss of the sense of position and the test is considered positive.

Referral to a specialist for counseling may be indicated.

References:

Goetz, CG. Textbook of Clinical Neurology . 2nd ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2003: 713-736.

Goldman L, Ausiello D. Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 22nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2004:2305-2306.

• Review Date: 3/5/2007
• Reviewed By: Daniel Kantor, M.D., Director of the Comprehensive MS Center, Neuroscience Institute, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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