Cerebral palsy is a disorder that affects movement, muscle coordination and muscle tone. The condition is caused by damage that occurs to a child's brain before, during or shortly after birth. Cerebral palsy side effects can range from mild to severe. Since cerebral palsy causes weakness and limits flexibility, fitness ball exercises can help increase core strength and also improve flexibility.
Significance
Core weakness in patients with cerebral palsy can limit the ability to sit, walk and perform smooth movements. Exercise can improve strength and flexibility as well as improve self-image and socialization, promoting a more active lifestyle.
Expert Insight
"Ball exercises are excellent tools for people with cerebral palsy," says Elizabeth Fox, a pediatric occupational therapist based in Magnolia, New Jersey. "Just sitting unsupported on an exercise ball while watching TV can improve core strength and posture. Stretching on the ball can help balance flexibility." Fox suggests using the ball for weight shifting and reaching activities as well as core strengthening exercises. The muscles affected by cerebral palsy vary from person to person. Some commonly affected muscles include the spinal extensors, abdominal muscles, quadriceps, dorsiflexors, plantarflexors, hips and shoulders.
Fitness balls comes in various sizes, allowing users to select a ball that is appropriate for their height. Select a fitness ball that allows your knees to be at a right angle when you sit on the ball.
Ball Exercises for Strengthening
On a fitness ball, strength training could translate into various exercise routines that include basic crunches performed on the ball or other types of exercises performed with the ball as a prop. Almost all exercises force the user to engage his core in order to stabilize the ball, which makes ball exercises more effective at overall strengthening.
For example, planks, which are commonly performed on a mat and resemble the top of a high push-up, can be performed on a fitness ball. To perform planks on a fitness ball, lay on the ball on your stomach with both your hands and feet touching the floor. Walk your hands out until your feet lift off the floor and your thighs are on the ball. Engage your abdominal muscles and hold for three to five breaths.
In addition to crunches and planks, other exercises include bridge, lunges, leg lifts and side exercises.
Ball Exercises for Flexibility
The fitness ball can be an effective prop for stretching all muscle groups. Stretches like the wheel, which is a challenging backbend that demands both strength and flexibility, can be performed by most levels by using the fitness ball as support. The wheel stretches the shoulders, front and back bodies.
Other stretches can be made more approachable with the fitness ball. The warrior series of yoga poses, which can be performed with the ball as support, stretch the hips and inner thighs. Other possible stretches include supported squats, shoulder stretches and supported forward folds to stretch the back.
Complementary Activities
A wide range of exercises can be beneficial to someone with cerebral palsy including slow stretching, yoga, swimming and horseback riding. Exercise coupled with physical, occupational and other recreational therapies can yield more holistic results. "The Preemie Parents Companion" suggests a multidisciplinary approach that includes exercise, physical therapy, adaptive devices, medical care, specialty braces and school-based programs.
Precautions
Since the severity of cerebral palsy can vary greatly from one person to the next, it is critical for all individuals to consult a physician or other therapeutic professional to determine a safe and effective exercise routine. As with all exercise, proper body alignment is critical to avoiding injury. In addition, since those affected by cerebral palsy can have extremely tight muscles, all stretching should be done slowly and steadily with caution, as quick, unpredictable movement could increase the chance of injury.
References
- Rehab Management: Pediatric Strength Training
- Elizabeth Fox; Occupational Therapist, Early Intervention Services; Magnolia, New Jersey
- "The Preemie Parents Companion"; Susan L. Madden, MS; 2000
- Medline Plus: Cerebral Palsy Resources
- MayoClinic.com: Cerebral Palsy
- MayoClinic.com: Core Exercises with a Fitness Ball
