I used to feel as though I was bobbing around like a balloon on a string 
Many people have been enthusing about weighted vests but because of the expense and the fact that they mostly require specialised fitting, it’s easy to be put off.
Just to get a feel for the thing, before a lot of expense is incurred, try looking online and in sports outlets. Weighted vests come in a variety of styles and weights, these just might prove to be an acceptable alternative
Also available are wrist and ankle weights, even some for the lower legs!
It’s not easy to get advice from medical professionals regarding what or will not help cope with the symptoms of Ataxia, sometimes we just have to experiment for ourselves, within reason of course :-)xB
hi Beryl and thank you xx
I really dont have a huge amount of knowledge but I am wondering...........it would seem that many Ataxians experience pain in our upper thighs. My physio (neuro) says that this is caused by our gait and that we have to strengthen our core muscles i e with simple exercise. I worry that a vest would root us to the spot and with a lot of use would weaken our muscles.
I have weights which I bought to strengthen my arms and legs. I will certainly give them a go.
I sound a bit miserable but I'm not :)
When I fall it is often because my feet have stopped but my body carries on lol
I think what you say is valuable. Perhaps other Ataxians could share what is good for them.
xx
love and light
S-J
Hi S-J 
Until recently I relied on a walking stick to keep me upright outdoors. Due to illness/weakness I realized that I was leaning on it more heavily, and on my right side.
When I started experiencing increasing pain in my right leg, eventually the penny dropped and I put two and two together, perhaps it was time for a change in tactics.
I googled rollators ( I nearly said rotovators, lol). It wasn’t a decision I took lightly, pain and discomfort were the deciding factors. I’d experienced the ‘freedom’ that supermarket trolleys give, more of a natural gait and being able to look around confidently while walking.
The rollator I chose is lightweight, with a seat and easy to fold/assemble. It’s called ‘Lets go Out’ by Trust Care, I bought it from Amazon. (Patsy has the same) Since using that instead of leaning on the walking stick, my leg/thigh pain has steadily decreased.
Now I’m not touting this as a miracle cure but it worked for me.
In the past I have tried Pilates in a conscious attempt to ‘strengthen my core’. The movements made me nauseous, and once on the floor, I had difficulty getting back up, I was a dead weight
But then some people swear by it, it’s just a case of finding what works for you:-) This has to be the main criteria because we almost all experience symptoms slightly differently.
I hope there will be more hints passed on :-)xB
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Sarah-Jane Squire said:
hi Beryl and thank you xx
I really dont have a huge amount of knowledge but I am wondering…it would seem that many Ataxians experience pain in our upper thighs. My physio (neuro) says that this is caused by our gait and that we have to strengthen our core muscles i e with simple exercise. I worry that a vest would root us to the spot and with a lot of use would weaken our muscles.
I have weights which I bought to strengthen my arms and legs. I will certainly give them a go.
I sound a bit miserable but I’m not
When I fall it is often because my feet have stopped but my body carries on lol
I think what you say is valuable. Perhaps other Ataxians could share what is good for them.
xx
love and light
S-J
So Kay, are you practicing chair yoga now, and if so, would you recommend it?
Until I researched this I’d always assumed a person had to contort themselves into seemingly impossible positions re yoga, not something I found especially appealing
On the internet there are numerous links to yoga exercises, there appears to be a type suitable for any level of ability, and it’s considered gentle but strengthening exercise. In fact yoga.about.com specifically claim chair yoga is beneficial for people with a neurological condition, that could be us
The benefits are - it improves flexibility, reduces stress, builds up strength and improves posture, I need to sign up
disabled-world.com recommend laughter yoga! They have links to yoga exercise to help with urinary incontinence, and give details of exercises to specifically strengthen pelvic floor muscles.
As always, for anyone starting exercise and having a medical condition, it’s advisable to find a good teacher to minimize the risk of injury. But first and foremost, listen to your body when it tells you to stop xB