Because it affects your coordination, cerebral palsy may make you overlook an active hobby such as karate. However, sometimes aiming high gives you the right amount of drive to overcome obstacles. Karate may help to alleviate some of the lower-body balance and muscle tone problems that come with cerebral palsy. Regular karate classes also give you concrete goals to focus on, which may help improve your outlook and confidence.
Background
Cerebral palsy can refer to a number of different disorders that affect the part of your brain that maintains proper muscle tone. People with cerebral palsy have difficulty moving and maintaining proper posture. The exact symptoms vary from person to person -- some people have too much muscle tone, which makes their muscles stiff and movements rigid; others experience slow undirected movements that they have trouble controlling; and some have difficulties with their balance and perception of distance.
Benefits
Taking karate classes can give you a vigorous aerobic workout. The constant kicks, punches and stances you do in karate get your heart rate up and improve your endurance. Karate's emphasis on kicks and explosive movements may also improve your lower body strength and flexibility, according to a May 2007 study published in the "Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research." The improved lower-body strength and flexibility you get from karate may help with rigidity and balance issues you may have with cerebral palsy.
Evidence
No clinical trials show that karate specifically improves the symptoms of cerebral palsy. However, in a May 2008 article in the "American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation," Olaf Verschuren and colleagues reviewed the existing evidence on the effects of exercise on cerebral palsy, and noted that a person with cerebral palsy may benefit from an exercise regime that improves his lower-body strength and cardiovascular fitness. Therefore, the aerobic workout and enhanced lower-body strength that karate offers may make it an ideal choice for someone with cerebral palsy.
Options
Karate classes are taught at martial arts schools and community centers, and classes usually teach groups of kids at a time. Due to the greater difficulty in maintaining balance and making fluid movements, someone with cerebral palsy may progress slowly at first, so private classes may be the best option to get the most out of the workouts.
Considerations
Because symptoms of cerebral palsy vary, karate may be a more helpful treatment option for some cerebral palsy sufferers than others. For example, those with particularly severe spasticity may have more difficulty learning all but the most basic karate moves.
Also note that karate has not been shown to be an effective replacement for conventional cerebral palsy treatment. Rather, cerebral palsy may be considered a treatment extension after consulting with your physician or therapist.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Cerebral Palsy
- Health.gov: Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans: Active Children and Adolescents
- "Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research"; A Comparison of Lower-Body Flexibility, Strength, and Knee Stability Between Karate Athletes and Active Controls; Manuel M. Probst, et al.; May 2007
- "American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation"; Exercise Programs for Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review of the Literature; Olaf Verschuren, et al.; May 2008
- Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Association: Karate and Hemiplegia
- Special Yoga: Cerebral Palsy and Yoga
