Children with cerebral palsy may have several motor control problems: spasticity, causing a higher than normal amount of muscle tone; hypotonia, causing a lower than normal amount of tone; athetosis, causing involuntary movements; ataxia, impairing balance and control; or any combination of these. The controlled full-body movements in yoga can counteract these motor deficits. Poses and exercise intensity may need to be modified to a child's level of ability.
Range of Motion
Hamstrings, calf muscles, and biceps are frequently tight in individuals with cerebral palsy, placing them at risk for joint contractures and significant functional limitations. A 2006 study in the journal Physical Therapy found greater gains in hamstring length when participants moved through a series of positions and worked on body awareness than when they performed a standard stretching program.
Strengthening
Weakness is common in people with cerebral palsy, and a tight or spastic muscle is not necessarily a strong one. Strength and weight-bearing activities are crucial for maintaining mobility, decreasing the risk of injury, and maximizing independence. In a study published in 2001 by researchers at the University of California, Davis, subjects who participated in yoga twice a week for 8 weeks increased their elbow flexion strength 19%, elbow extension strength 31%, and knee extension strength 28%.
Posture
Children with cerebral palsy frequently display impaired posture with forward curvature of the spine. Scoliosis is a common problem as well. The stretches and movements in yoga combat one-sided tightness that contributes to lateral curvature of the spine. Poses incorporating extending the spine and looking upward take a child out of a habitual slouched position.
Body Control
A child with athetosis or ataxia has more difficulty getting a message from the brain relayed to and carried out by his muscles than his peers. Repeating movements as part of a yoga routine helps the body develop a "motor memory" for the task, so that practice leads to increased smoothness and accuracy of movement.
Balance
Many children with cerebral palsy have an increased risk for falling in comparison to their peers. Transitioning between poses requires weight shifting and transferring the center of gravity with control. As the child's proficiency with these transitions increase, their body's response to being jostled or nudged improves, and the child can activate the appropriate muscles more efficiently to maintain balance.
Respiration
Respiratory problems are common with cerebral palsy, placing children at risk for pneumonia and other airway complications. The deep breathing done in yoga encourages maximal expansion of the chest and lungs, helping to keep airways clear.
Body Awareness and Relaxation
The nervous system of a child with cerebral palsy tends to be more sensitive in comparison to peers. This may be manifested as an exaggerated startle response or increased muscle activation when exerting effort or under stress. Yoga teaches a child to pay attention to sensations in the body and respond to areas of tension with relaxation strategies. This skill can carry over into daily living tasks to allow the child to face physical and mental challenges more calmly.
References
- "Physical Therapy"; Lengthening the Hamstring Muscles Without Stretching Using "Awareness Through Movement"; James Stephens, Joshua Davidson, Joseph DeRosa, Michael Kriz, Nicole Saltzman; December 2006
- Cerebral Palsy; American Academy of Neurology
- "Physical Therapy"; Activity, Activity, Activity: Rethinking our Physical Therapy Approach to Cerebral Palsy; Diane L Damiano; November 2006
- "Physical Therapy"; A Yoga-Based Exercise Program for People With Chronic Poststroke Hemiparesis; Julie V Bastille, Kathleen M Gill-Body; January 2004
- "Preventive Cardiology"; Effects of Hatha Yoga Practice on the Health-Related Aspects of Physical Fitness; MD Tran, RG Holly, J Lashbrook, EA Amsterdam; September 2001
