Cerebral Palsy Physical Therapy

Cerebral palsy affects thousands of people every year. This debilitating condition is yet to find a permanent cure. Nevertheless treatment options like physical therapy can ease the symptoms of the condition and improve greatly the quality of living of many patients.

What is cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy is caused by injuries to the brain of an infant in the womb of the mother or at the most, a few moths after the birth. This leads to a series of abnormalities including limited motor skills, learning disabilities, speech difficulties and overall poor level of functioning.

Cerebral palsy and physical therapy:

Physical therapy is the most advanced form of treatment option available today. This therapy is given in addition to the conventional medicines and treatments. The effect of this therapy for patients suffering from cerebral palsy verges on the threshold of a miracle. This therapy can be given to the patients suffering from cerebral palsy immediately after the diagnosis is made. Initially, the patients, who usually happen to be children, are assisted in improving the movement pf the body by the physical therapist with the help of simple exercises.

The aim of these therapy sessions is to target the muscles of the body like abdomen, legs and arms to improve mobility and balance. Some of the most popular forms of exercises that can assist movement include kicking, throwing, lifting the hand and legs etc. the aim of physical therapy is to help the children become more independent by improving their chances of walking on their own. Sometimes the aim is also to limit the time that the child is obliged to spend in a wheelchair. Physical therapy takes place in sessions. Thus, the aim or objective of each session varies according to the progress made by the patient over the weeks.

Regular physical therapy sessions conducted by a supportive therapist can lead to improved flexibility, mobility, functions and strength. Sometimes physical therapy can also include unique activities like horseback riding, aquatic physical therapy playing and more. The main focus is also on helping the patients’ to have fun while getting this treatment.

Thus, perhaps the most novel aspect of this therapy as against the other treatment options is that it has minimum pain and induces maximum enjoyment, even as the children get a chance to get over the problem and enjoy as normal a life as possible with cerebral palsy.