Cerebral palsy is one of the most prevalent neurological disorders among children and generally appears during early life. It typically manifests with a wide variety of signs and symptoms including decreased muscle coordination, weakness, spasticity, feeding problems and cognitive impairments. Cerebral palsy can be very mild in some children and severe in others depending on the extent of neurological damage. Physical therapy has been proven to be effective at reducing limitations and increasing quality of life among these individuals.
History of Physical Therapy
Physical therapy has been around for hundreds of years in one way or another. It can be traced back to ancient Greece where it was used in the form of massage and water therapy. In the United States, it originated during World War I when specially trained nurses were used as reconstruction aides. Since that time, physical therapists have been helping individuals with disorders such as cerebral palsy live more functional lives.
Causes of Cerebral Palsy
Physicians believe that cerebral palsy is caused by events that take place in utero prior to a baby being born. A small majority of cerebral palsy cases are also attributed to complications that occur during the first few months after a child is born. According to MayoClinic.com, known causes of cerebral palsy include meningitis, viral encephalitis, lack of oxygen and congenital abnormalities. Unfortunately, the signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy are not always apparent and a child may go years without being formally diagnosed.
Significance of Physical Therapy
Depending on the severity of a child's cerebral palsy, they can present with numerous physical and cognitive impairments. Physical therapists typically work as part of a multidisciplinary health care team to treat the motor impairments. The primary role of the physical therapist is to help maximize the functional abilities of children with cerebral palsy. This includes improving balance, strength, flexibility, walking ability and ability to transfer. In instances where a child may not be able to walk, a physical therapist will fit and train him to use a wheelchair.
Benefits of Physical Therapy
Physical therapy cannot cure cerebral palsy but it can significantly improve an individual's quality of life. Although cerebral palsy is a nonprogressive disease, impairments that are left untreated may get progressively worse. With the design and implementation of a thorough physical therapy program, the negative impact of neuromuscular impairments on overall function can be limited. Often, children with less severe cerebral palsy can learn to live independent to semi-independent lives with the help of a physical therapist.
Physical Therapy Treatments
There are a wide variety of effective physical therapy treatments for children with cerebral palsy. Since many of these children have neuromuscular impairments, therapy will typically include stretching, strengthening and positioning interventions. Physical therapists also design and fabricate splints for children in order to maintain optimal joint integrity. Many physical therapists specially trained in aquatic therapy also incorporate the beneficial properties of water to help with treatments. According to Cerebral Palsy Source, recent findings suggest that water serves as an ideal environment for stretching and strengthening the muscles of children with cerebral palsy.
