1. Work on Positioning
In order to access particular muscle groups, the physical therapist overseeing your treatment program will introduce you to the concept of positioning. Cerebral palsy (CP) patients need to be helped into specialized positions so that therapy can target key muscles. Bracing is one of the most common positioning techniques. Your therapist can apply body braces or splints to orient the limbs or trunk in a proper posture. If the CP patient in your life is wheelchair-bound, special wheelchair inserts might be used in lieu of braces. Your therapist may also prescribe the use of abduction pillows to prevent the patient from getting him or herself into positions that will cause undue muscle strain. Abduction pillows are most commonly used on CP patients with moderate to severe physical disabilities. Less intrusive positioning treatments like knee braces and postural adjustments may be recommended if your child has milder physical symptoms.
2. Build Strength With the Help of a Physical Therapist
The exact stretches and exercises that your therapist will recommend depend heavily upon the severity of the patient's physical disabilities and the specific muscles that need work. No two cases of CP are alike, and thus no treatment programs are exactly the same. Generally, though, you'll find that physical therapists apply techniques that work through the muscle tautness and tension that's characteristic of cerebral palsy. These techniques use both a stretching and a strengthening component. The exercises your physical therapist will recommend will aim to apply a gentle but constant pull on the muscles, which will slowly increase in intensity. You should follow any directions for home care given by your physical therapist closely. Cerebral palsy patients need intensive daily exercise to achieve results. Generally, patients should expect to spend between five and 20 hours per week on building muscle strength.
3. Correct Muscle Tones
Drawing on positioning techniques, your physical therapist will also work on helping you or your child achieve a smoother, healthier muscle tone. Beyond exercises that aim to build strength, other stretch and exercise regimens will be used that are designed to correct undesirable characteristics of affected muscle groups. Cerebral palsy patients tend to have thicker muscle tones concentrated in relatively limited areas because of mobility limitations and incorrect posture. The physical therapist will identify problem areas and target them with stretches and exercises that will smooth them out. Because most of these muscles are concentrated in the arms or legs, your therapist will likely make extensive use of techniques designed to keep the arms and legs limber and in correct positions. Over time, your child will achieve a more uniform muscle tone.
4. Take to the Water
Because water can offer both natural resistance and assistance when performing exercises, more and more therapists are diving in and encouraging CP patients to get in the pool. The science behind the aquatic migration is based on gravity. Most cerebral palsy patients have shorter than normal muscles, especially in their extremities. These muscles need to be lengthened, which gravity makes very difficult when only conventional exercise and strengthening techniques are used. However, therapists and patients get better results when exercise is performed in a pool. Currents in the water can be used to amp up resistance, making it necessary for your child to work his muscles harder, or to assist in mobility and movement. Increasingly, you'll find therapists and doctors who are getting their feet wet with these techniques.
