1. Improve Mobility
To treat cerebral palsy, physical therapy is employed to enhance the function and development of the patient's major muscle systems. Your child's physical therapist will focus on helping the patient achieve better overall balance and mobility, which means different things for different patients. Some cerebral palsy patients can walk and move independently, while others will remain wheelchair bound. Your doctor or physical therapist may refer to "gross motor skills." This term refers to skills that use the trunk, arms and legs. The gross motor skills of cerebral palsy patients lag far behind unaffected individuals and physical therapists aim to close the gap as much as possible.
2. Enhance Leisure Time
A physical therapist will use repetitious exercise sets to prevent muscle decay from underuse. While most of the therapist's effort will go towards strengthening major muscles and improving mobility, the therapist will also focus on developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Once overall mobility shows significant improvement, your physical therapist wil attempt to enhance ancillary skills, such as running, kicking and bicycling. If the patient has an enhanced ability to enjoy leisure time, he will enjoy better overall physical health, since remaining as active as possible will promote continued muscle and skeletal development.
3. Prevent Muscular and Skeletal Problems
Patients with cerebral palsy are at heightened risk for developing serious bone and muscle problems, and physical therapists work to prevent them from developing a medical condition known as contracture. This condition occurs when muscles fuse into unnatural shapes due to lack of use. A physical therapist will identify underused muscles and zero in on them, encouraging the patient to perform exercises that will prevent contractures and foster better overall muscular and skeletal development.
