The handkerchief guide: a simple and practical method to improve ataxic gait in cerebellar subjects.

Objective: Ataxic gait can be remarkably improved by a simple method called the "handkerchief guide" involving the patient and caregiver holding opposite ends of a handkerchief and walking together. Our objective was to assess the effect of the handkerchief guide on gait in patients with cerebellar ataxia.

Methods: Gait analysis was carried out on seven patients with degenerative cerebellar disease (DCD), seven patients with unilateral cerebellar vascular disease (CVD), and seven healthy control (HC) subjects.