# Home-Based Rehabilitation With Frenkel’s Exercises for Adrenomyeloneuropathy: A Case Report

**Authors:** Takemasa Ishikawa

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.80878 · Cureus · 2025-03-20

## TL;DR

A 32-year-old man with adrenomyeloneuropathy improved significantly after one month of home-based Frenkel’s exercises, showing reduced ataxia and better motor control.

## Contribution

This case report demonstrates the potential effectiveness of Frenkel’s exercises in AMN rehabilitation for ataxia-related motor deficits.

## Key findings

- The patient's ataxia score improved from 10 to 5 after one month of Frenkel’s exercises.
- Notable improvements were observed in gait, stance, and fine motor control.
- The intervention suggests Frenkel’s exercises may be a valuable addition to AMN rehabilitation.

## Abstract

Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) encompasses a spectrum of X-linked genetic disorders, including the adult-onset adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN) phenotype. We report the case of a 32-year-old male with AMN and examine the impact of a tailored home-based rehabilitation regimen, specifically employing Frenkel’s exercises. The patient displayed classic AMN symptoms, including spastic paraparesis, peripheral neuropathy, and urinary disturbances. Initial assessments revealed significant ataxia-related impairments, particularly in gait, stance, and heel-shin slide. A home-visit nurse collaborated with the patient to develop and implement a personalized regimen utilizing Frenkel’s exercises. Over one month, the patient demonstrated remarkable improvement, reducing his Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia score from 10 to 5. Detailed analysis revealed specific enhancements in gait, stance, and fine motor control, aligning with the goals of Frenkel’s exercises. These findings suggest that Frenkel’s exercises can be a valuable addition to AMN rehabilitation, addressing ataxia-related motor deficits. While recognizing AMN’s complexity and individual variability, further research is essential to refine rehabilitation strategies. Long-term follow-up studies are needed to assess intervention sustainability and its impact on the ALD spectrum’s overall disease progression and quality of life.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** adrenoleukodystrophy (MONDO:0010247), adrenomyeloneuropathy (MONDO:0015339), peripheral neuropathy (MONDO:0003620)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** ALD (MESH:D000326), X-linked genetic disorders (MESH:D040181), peripheral neuropathy (MESH:D010523), Ataxia (MESH:D001259), motor deficits (MESH:D009461), urinary disturbances (MESH:D014548), spastic paraparesis (MESH:D020336)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

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## References

19 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12010111/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12010111