Physical therapy is available for those with brain injuries and cerebral palsy. In both cases, physical therapy is a crucial part of recovery and adaptation, helping you to regain motor function and potentially allowing you to become more independent. Therapy will often include exercises that focus on the body as well as the mind; improving your cognitive function will have an impact on your motor skills and coordination.
Brain Injuries and Cerebral Palsy
Brain injuries can occur through trauma --- like an accident or fall --- or they can happen internally due to stroke or lack of oxygen. Brain injuries, both traumatic and internal, can lead to cerebral palsy; damage can occur while the baby is in the womb, or in the first few months or years after birth. Not all brain injuries result in cerebral palsy, although any damage to your brain will affect your overall function. Cerebral palsy and brain injuries can impact your thought processes, motor function or any of your five senses. Your ability to regulate blood pressure, body temperature and control your elimination functions may also be impaired.
Importance of Physical Therapy
Physical therapy can help to retrain your mind and body to function properly, rebuilding neural pathways and increasing blood flow to your brain. Exercise, particularly if it forces you to think and focus, improves cognitive function and promotes brain "plasticity." Plasticity is your brain's ability to change and repair itself after damage. In addition to brain benefits, regular movement prevents tightness and atrophy of muscles, tendons and ligaments. Providing your mind and body with a variety of activities that excite and challenge you can promote optimal brain and body function.
Physical Therapy for Cerebral Palsy
As of 2011, physical therapy for cerebral palsy consists of a blend of physical and mental activity, stretching, positioning and the use of adaptive equipment. Physical therapy will improve gross motor skills --- or movements that involve large muscles of the body, like walking --- while occupational therapy can work on the fine motor skills needed to complete daily living tasks. Both are needed to help an individual gain greater independence and quality of life. According to the summer 2011 issue of "Pediatric Physical Therapy," children with cerebral palsy who received physical therapy that focused on improvement of upper extremity function, self-care skills and social skills were more likely to receive post-secondary education.
Physical Therapy for Brain Injuries
Because brain injuries can occur at any stage of life, physical therapy programs will vary depending on the patient's abilities and condition. Beginning therapy soon after an injury occurs is crucial for regaining function. Similar to cerebral palsy, physical and occupational therapy sessions can improve gross and fine motor skills. Another option for brain injury patients is the use of neuropsychological rehabilitation. Administered by a neuropsychologist, this type of rehabilitation involves attention process exercises, which focus on specific neural pathways in the brain, as well as neurofeedback. Neurofeedback is a technology that senses brainwaves, promoting proper brainwave function through reward-based computer programs. These facets of therapy can help promote enhanced brain activity and improve physical function.
References
- 4MyChild: Causes of Cerebral Palsy
- Brain Injury Association of America: Living with Brain Injuries
- Craig Hospital: Exercise and Your Brain
- Origins of Cerebral Palsy: Physical Therapy
- "Pediatric Physical Therapy"; Relationship of therapy to postsecondary education and employment in young adults with physical disabilities; K. Bjornson et al; Summer 2011
- Brain Therapy Center; Benefits of Cognitive Rehabilitation and Neuropsychological Rehabilitation; H.L. Burke, Ph.D.
