Role of the cerebellum in the control and adaptation of gait in health and disease

Abstract

In humans, inability to stand and walk is the most limiting of motor disabilities. In humans, upright stance and gait is the most sensitive indicator of cerebellar disease. From animal and human studies, much has been learned about how the cerebellum coordinates normal movement, and how it may play roles in normal motor adaptation and learning. Much of this work suggests that different parts of the cerebellum control stance and gait in different ways, and differently located lesions cause different deficits. What is not known is whether the cerebellum can compensate for stance and gait disorders caused by lesions in other parts of the nervous system, or whether one part of the cerebellum can compensate for deficits caused by lesion of another part. These issues have become increasingly important in rehabilitation research and practice.