Quantitative studies of any design were eligible for inclusion provided their primary intervention was physiotherapy for adults (aged over 18 years) with cerebellar dysfunction or disease diagnosed by radiological scans or neurological examination/diagnosis. The intervention was required to target impairment and/or restrictions on activity or participation related to cerebellar dysfunction and to be conducted in a clinical setting. Studies were included if all or a distinct subset of participants met inclusion criteria.
Participants in the review ranged in age from 19 to 90 years and had a variety of cerebellar pathologies including multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, stroke, cerebellar degeneration and neoplasm. Interventions in the included studies targeted a range of impairments related to cerebellar dysfunction and differed widely in the type, frequency, intensity and duration of exercise involved. Commonly used interventions were vestibular habituation exercises, proprioceptive neurofacilitation, Frenkel's exercises and activities to retrain balance. Some studies used standardised programmes and others were tailored to participant needs. The intervention was delivered in an inpatient, outpatient and/or home setting. Controls (where relevant) received no intervention or a less intensive intervention. A variety of outcomes were reported, with differing measures used to evaluate the same variable. Most studies were case series or case studies. Most had no follow up beyond the intervention period, which ranged from a one-off session to 21 months.
Three reviewers conducted the final selection of studies for inclusion. Disagreements were resolved by consensus.