Frenkel exercises are a set of exercises developed by Professor Heinrich Sebastian Frenkel^[1] to treat ataxia, in particular cerebellar ataxia.^[2]

They are a system of slowing down repetitious exercises. They increase in difficulty over the time of the program.^[3] The patient watches their hand or arm movements (for example) and corrects them as needed.^[4]

These 30 minutes of exercises include 10 minutes of exercise aimed at the function to improve, 10 minutes of stretching exercises and 10 minutes of muscular strengthening. We therefore recommend where possible that you spend at least 30 minutes a day on the self-rehabilitation exercises that have been prescribed for you. Frenkel’s exercise As mentioned above, Frenkel’s exercise3 is a coordination and proprioception exercise devised by Heinrich Frenkel for patients with tabetic ataxia. The treatment for tabetic ataxia is based upon educating the central nervous system through the accurate repetition of exercise with high levels of concentration.

Although the technique is simple, needs virtually no exercise equipment, and can be done on one's own, concentration and some degree of perseverance is required. Research has shown that 20,000 to 30,000 repetitions may be required to produce results.^[5][6] A simple calculation will show that this can be achieved by doing 60 repetitions every hour for six weeks in a 16-hour daily waking period. The repetitions will take just a few minutes every hour.

The brain as a whole learns to compensate for motor deficits in the cerebellum (or the spinal cord where applicable). If the ataxia affects say, head movements, the patient can use a mirror or combination of mirrors to watch their own head movements.

History[edit]

The exercises were developed by Heinrich Frenkel, a Swiss neurologist who, one day in 1887, while examining a patient with ataxia, observed the patient's poor performance of the finger-to-nose test.

The patient asked Dr Frenkel about the test and was told what it meant and that he did not 'pass' the test. Several months later, on re-examination, the patient showed extraordinary improvement in coordination.

Frenkel was astonished by the improvement. He had never seen such an improvement before, which was contradictory to the teaching of the day.

Frenkel Exercise Manual Free

When Frenkel asked the patient what had happened in the interval, the patient replied, 'I wanted to pass the test and so I practiced.' This event inspired Frenkel to a general assumption: 'If one patient can reduce his ataxia by practice, why not all? Or at least others?' He immediately started to study the problem in a practical manner.

Practice[edit]

In his book on ataxia, Frenkel states: 'The visual sense is the greatest supporting factor in the treatment'. This means the patient must watch their own movements while practicing them.

Frenkel's book states that the best way to perform the exercises is to do them for three minutes using some kind of timer so the exercises become less of a chore. Then the patient should do something entirely different and unrelated for fifteen minutes, say read a book or have a chat. At that point the patient goes back to the exercises for another three minutes when it will be found that the skill has improved to a step higher from when the exercises were last done fifteen minutes earlier. It is thought that the fifteen-minute break enables the new neural connections to be created.

Frenkel's book posits that these sessions should be done every day for at least six weeks.

The patient can treat themself and obviously in the absence of a medical practitioner must do so. However, it is better that a physiotherapist is involved. He or she motivates and guides the patient in how to watch themself move. The therapist may also help the patient move where muscular strength is low.

Frenkel states that is very important that the therapist also gives the patient pep talks and motivation.

Frenkel noted that the patient had to be free from opiate and alcohol use, for instance, in order to achieve the required focus of attention.

References[edit]

1. ^Zwecker M, Zeilig G, Ohry A (January 2004). 'Professor Heinrich Sebastian Frenkel: a forgotten founder of rehabilitation medicine'. Spinal Cord. 42 (1): 55–6. doi:10.1038/sj.sc.3101515. PMID14713947.
2. ^Garson, JG (26 August 1911). 'The Frenkel System of Exercises for Tabes'. British Medical Journal. 2 (2643): 420–1. doi:10.1136/bmj.2.2643.420. PMC2331454. PMID20765769.
3. ^'Frenkel's exercises'. Mosby's Medical Dictionary (8th ed.). Elsevier. 2009.
4. ^Barclay, H.V. (1913). 'Medical Gymnastics in Locomotor Ataxia: The Frenkel and Other Exercises'. The American Journal of Nursing. 13 (6): 428–436. doi:10.2307/3403902. JSTOR3403902.
5. ^Sunder (1 January 2004). Textbook of Rehabilitation. Jaypee Brothers Publishers. p. 26. ISBN978-81-7179-979-4.
6. ^Nardone, A; Godi, M; Artuso, A; Schieppati, M (December 2010). 'Balance rehabilitation by moving platform and exercises in patients with neuropathy or vestibular deficit'. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 91 (12): 1869–77. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2010.09.011. PMID21112428.

Frenkel Exercises are a series of motions of increasing difficulty performed by ataxic patients to facilitate the restoration of coordination. Frenkel's exercises are used to bring back the rhythmic, smooth and coordinated movements.

Dr. H S Frenkel was a physician from Switzerland who aimed at establishing voluntary control of movement by the use of any part of the sensory mechanism which remained intact, notably sight, sound and touch, to compensate for the loss of kinaesthetic sensation.

Frenkel Exercises were originally developed in 1889 to treat patients of tabes dorsalis and problems of sensory ataxia owing to loss of proprioception. These exercises have been applied in the treatment of individuals with ataxia, in particular cerebellar ataxia. The exercises are performed in supine, sitting, standing and walking. Each activity is performed slowly with the patient using vision to carefully guide correct movement. These exercises require a high degree of mental concentration and effort. For those patients with the prerequisite abilities, they may be helpful in regaining control of movement through cognitive compensation strategies. Patients with partial sensation can progress to practicing exercises with eyes closed. The main principles of Frenkel exercises are the following:

Frenkel Exercise Manual Pdf

• Concentration or attention
• Precision
• Repetition

This program consists of a planned series of exercises designed to help patient compensate for the inability to tell where the arms and legs are- in space without looking.

• 1. Exercises are designed primarily for coordination; they are not intended for strengthening.
• 2. Commands should be given in an event, slow voice; the exercises should be done to counting.
• 3. It is important that the area is well lit and that patients are positioned so that they can watch the movement of their legs.
• 4. Avoid fatigue. Perform each exercise not more than four times. Rest between each exercise.
• 5. Exercises should be done within normal range of motion to avoid over-stretching of muscles.
• 6. The first simple exercises should be adequately performed before progressing to more difficult patterns.

General Instructions for frenkel exercises

Frenkel Exercises Handout

• Exercises can be performed with the part supported or unsupported, unilaterally or bilaterally.
• They should be practiced as smooth, timed movements, performed at a slow, even tempo by counting out loud.
• Consistency of performance is stressed and a specified target can be used to determine range.
• Four basic positions are used: lying, sitting, standing and walking.
• The exercises progress from postures of greatest stability (lying, sitting) to postures of greatest challenge (standing, walking).
• As voluntary control improves, the exercises progress to stopping and starting on command, increasing the range and performing the same exercises with eyes closed.
• Concentration and repetition are the keys to success.

Frenkel exercises for lower limb

Exercises for the legs in lying

• Flex and extend one leg by the heel sliding down a straight line on the table.
• Abduct and adduct hip smoothly with knee bent and heel on the table.
• Abduct and adduct leg with knee and hip extended by sliding the whole leg on the table.
• Flex and extend hip and knee with heel off the table.
• Flex and extend both the legs together with the heel sliding on the table.
• Flex one leg while extending the other.
• Flex and extend one leg while taking the other leg into abduction and adduction.
• Heel of one limb to opposite leg (toes, ankle, shin, patella).
• Heel of one limb to opposite knee, sliding down crest of tibia to ankle.

Whether the patient slides the heels or lifts it off the bed he has to touch it to the marks indicated by the patient on the plinth. The patient may also be told to place the heel of one leg on various points of the opposite leg under the guidance of the therapist.

Exercises for the legs in Sitting

• One leg is stretched to slide the heel to a position indicated by a mark on the floor.
• The alternate leg is lifted to place the heel on the marked point.
• From stride sitting posture patient is asked to stand and then sit.
• Rise and sit with knees together.
• Sitting hip abduction and adduction.

Exercises for the legs in Standing

• In stride standing weight is transferred from one foot to other.
• Place foot forward and backward on a straight line.
• Walk along a winding strip.
• Walk between two parallel lines
• Walk sideways by placing feet on the marked point.
• Walk and turn around
• Walk and change direction to avoid obstacles.

Frenkel exercises for upper limb

Similar exercises can be devised for the upper limb wherein the patient may be directed to place the hand on the various points marked on the table or wall board to improve coordination of all the movements in the upper limb.

Some examples of Frankel exercises of upper limb in sitting position

Frenkel Exercise Manual Online

• Have patient sit in front of a table and place a number of objects on the table. The patient then touches each object with the right hand and then the left hand.
• The patient flexes the right shoulder to 90 degree with elbow and wrist extended. The patient then takes his or her right index finger and touches the tip of his or her nose. This exercise is then repeated with the left hand. The exercise is performed alternating right and left index finger.
• The patient taps bilateral hands on bilateral thighs while alternating palmer and dorsal surfaces as fast as possible.

Certain diversional activities such as building with toy bricks or drawing on a black board, buttoning, combing, writing, typing are some of the activities that also improves the coordination.

References

• Physical Rehabilitation by Susan O Sullivan
• Physiotherapy in Neuro-conditions by By Glady Samuel Raj
• Pocket Notes for the Physical Therapist Assistant- By Steven B. Skinner, Christina McVey
• Neurological Disabilities: Assessment and Treatment- By Susan E. Bennett, James L. Karnes