Exercises for children with cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy is a serious pathology associated with impaired brain functions responsible for movement. Such disorders do not worsen with the growth and development of the child: they occur at birth and do not disappear with age. Exercises for children with cerebral palsy are an important moment in helping a sick child, because motor function disorders are often expressed in the weakness of some muscle groups.

Classes can allow the child to better coordinate his movements, straighten his gait if possible, and improve cervical rotation.

It is better to alternate therapeutic physical training exercises with massage sessions, as well as with other procedures that improve microcirculation in tissues.

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Physical therapy for cerebral palsy

The use of therapeutic gymnastics for cerebral palsy is included in the mandatory scheme of children's medical rehabilitation, as an active component of complex treatment, a means of maintaining the child's body in an active motor state, a stimulator of internal reserves and protective forces.

What does a therapeutic exercise complex consist of?

• Performing physical exercises, independently or with the help of adults.
• Massage treatments.
• Hardening and strengthening the body, active lifestyle.
• Reflexology, acupuncture.
• Involving the child in light work activities.

All of the listed methods in combination are capable of curing pathological disorders and restoring damaged functions of the patient. In addition, the general condition of the body improves, the immune system is strengthened, and the psychological state of the child is stabilized.

Success in treating children with cerebral palsy directly depends on strict adherence to the training schedule, not allowing classes to be missed, and maintaining the daily routine. However, it is necessary to realize that the recovery process will be long and quite difficult.

Main directions and objectives of the classes:

• bringing the muscular system into normal tone, strengthening underdeveloped and weakened muscles;
• improved joint movement;
• development of coordination functions, the ability to maintain balance;
• development of skills for independent change of body positions (standing, sitting, moving);
• activation of motor functions (outdoor games, development of reaction);
• development of independence, instilling everyday and work skills.

Any set of exercises should start with the upper body and end with the lower limbs. Sometimes it is easier for a child to do exercises in front of a mirror: being able to watch their movements, it is easier for the baby to coordinate them.

A set of exercises for children with cerebral palsy

We invite you to familiarize yourself with a number of the most effective exercises that are recommended for children with cerebral palsy.

Activities that develop movement skills:

• the child sits on his haunches, the adult stands in front of him in the same way, puts the child’s hands on his shoulders and, holding him by the waist, tries to put the baby on his knees;
• the child is kneeling, the adult supports him under the armpits and tilts him in different directions. This technique allows the child to learn to distribute the load on the right and then on the left leg;
• an adult stands behind a standing child, holding his armpits, and gently pushes the child's popliteal fossa with his knees, forcing him to sit down;
• the child sits on a chair, the adult stands opposite him, fixing his legs, pressing his feet to the floor. The adult takes the child's hands and stretches them forward and upward, which makes the baby stand up;
• holding the child, ask him to stand alternately on each leg, trying to maintain balance;
• supporting the child by the arms, make pushing and pulling movements in different directions, forcing the child to take a step.

Exercises to normalize joint functions:

• the child lies on his back, one leg is extended, and the other should be gradually brought to the stomach with the knee, after which return to the original position;
• the child lies on his side, with the help of an adult slowly moving his thigh first to one side, then to the other. The knee is bent;
• the child lies on his back, alternately raising and lowering his legs, bending them at the knee;
• The child lies on his stomach, with a pillow under his chest. The adult lifts the child by his upper limbs, straightening the upper part of the body.

Exercises for abdominal muscles:

• the child sits on a chair, the adult helps the child lean forward. The child must return to the starting position independently, or with a little help from the adult;
• the child lies on his back, arms along the body. It is necessary to stimulate the baby's attempt to turn over onto his stomach and back again on his own, without using his arms;
• teach the child to tense the abdominal muscles, the exercise can be combined with deep inhalations and exhalations;
• the child sits on the floor with legs extended. Help the baby reach his toes with his fingers without bending his knees;
• The child lies on his back, the adult helps the child raise his straight legs and bring them, touching the floor with his toes, above his head.

Exercises to eliminate hypertonicity of arm muscles:

• perform active movements with the child's hand in different directions, occasionally shaking the hand and relaxing the muscles;
• Hold the child's hand or forearm firmly until the hypertonicity is eliminated, then rock or shake the limb to relax it.

Exercises for leg muscles:

• the child lies on his back, arms along the body, legs brought to the stomach. The adult holds the shins and alternately abducts the legs at the hip joint, combining abduction to the sides with circular rotations of the leg;
• The adult performs flexion and extension movements of the hip joint on the child, after which the child tries to hold the leg independently.

Exercises to maintain the neck muscles and the muscular corset of the body:

• the child lies on his back, and the adult, lifting the body by the armpits, rocks it from side to side, turns it to the right and left, not allowing the child to resist. The head is rocked in the same way, holding it in the air;
• the child lies on its side, and the adult tries to turn it over on its stomach or back. In this case, the baby should try not to give in to the pushes, resisting;
• The child sits on a chair, arms and head relaxed. The adult turns the head in different directions, tilts it forward and backward, and the child tries to relax the neck muscles as much as possible.

Exercises to stabilize breathing:

• ask the child to imitate deep breathing, blow out a burning candle, blow a feather off the palm of his hand. It is useful to inflate balloons with the baby or play, blowing soap bubbles;
• an excellent effect can be expected if you teach a child to sing. A similar effect is observed when playing the harmonica, flute, for a start you can use a regular whistle;
• teach your child to blow bubbles through a straw into a glass of water.

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Development of facial expressions in children with cerebral palsy

Often, a child diagnosed with cerebral palsy cannot always determine his emotional state, correctly react to positive and negative emotions, demonstrate exactly the facial expression that would correspond to the necessary feeling that the child is experiencing. How to teach a child to recognize emotional diversity and interpret it correctly? How to achieve the imitation of certain emotions by the child in order to be understood in society and understand others in the future? There are special psychogymnastic exercises for this:

• An adult should demonstrate to the child how a puppy sniffs, a bird listens, how a cat tracks a mouse. Then the child should be asked to repeat what he saw;
• show surprised eyes, ask to repeat;
• describe a moment of happiness and pleasure, show how a kitten rejoices in affection, and a puppy in a tasty treat;
• describe the feeling of pain, demonstrate abdominal pain, crying, feeling of cold;
• show a moment of disgust: let the child imagine that he is drinking bitter medicine or eating a lemon;
• explain what anger is by showing an angry person;
• demonstrate a feeling of fear, loss of home or loved ones;
• develop a sense of shame and guilt for one’s actions, teach one to ask for forgiveness.

Exercises in the pool for cerebral palsy

Water treatments are successfully used in the physical recovery of children affected by cerebral palsy. It is no secret that water perfectly relaxes muscles, stabilizes muscle tone, and gives energy. Exercises in water reduce the effects of stress and cure depressive states. A special effect can be expected from combining exercise therapy with being in water. This method of treatment is called hydrokinesitherapy. It can include certain exercises or games in water, as well as the use of underwater massage. An indescribable effect is observed when a child swims in a dolphinarium: communication with dolphins is considered truly therapeutic. It is difficult to understand the mechanism of this treatment, but the positive results of such therapy are undeniable.

In fact, it should be understood that treatment and care for a child with cerebral palsy is a long process that requires maximum time and effort, and only then will the measures taken be rewarded with long-awaited positive results. Only constant care and unlimited attention of loved ones will help achieve the desired changes in the child's physical development. Exercises for children with cerebral palsy must be carried out constantly and persistently, throughout the entire period of the pathology.

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