Around 764,000 people in the United States alone demonstrate one or more symptoms of cerebral palsy. This is a vast number, which proves that this disease is prevalent! Just like you, many people live with cerebral palsy and constantly look for ways to enhance their condition and boost their mobility.
The great news is that regular exercise can be important to your road to better health and independence.
Though not as visible or tangible as many other head injury symptoms, stuttering carries much weight in the big picture. So, fret not; it does not matter if you are a caregiver, someone’s mother, or have experienced an injury yourself.
We will explore the topic of stuttering after a head injury: the types, exact causes, and varieties of treatments.
Various Lower Limb Exercises for Cerebral Palsy
These exercises for cerebral palsy have been designed to help develop flexibility and expand the range of motion for individuals with cerebral palsy. They include:
Joint Rotations
Joint rotations will keep your joints flexible and the muscles robust. Focus on rotating ankles, knees, hips, elbows, and wrists, especially for cerebral palsy persons.
Now, let’s look at physical exercises for cerebral palsy, which one can work out:
Ankles
Sit or lie down, bend your knees, and gently rotate your ankles with your toes pointed one way and the other. Occasionally, some circles should be added in the other direction to balance the movement.
Knees
Lying on your back, extend one leg and bend the knee toward your chest. Hold it and then straighten it out, switching to your other leg. Knee rotations can also be carried out by slowly bending and straightening each knee, one at a time.
Hips
On your back, feet flexed on the floor, lift one knee while coming toward your chest, lower it back, and then repeat the same for the other knee. You can also circle the two knees bent in this position by gently rotating one of the bent knees out to the side and then back, repeating the same thing for the other hip.
Standing Calf Stretch
Tight calves can lead to poor posture, back pain, and balance. Calf stretching, when done regularly, is part of your cerebral palsy exercise routine and brings whole-body benefits.
Face a wall with hands on the wall and arms extended out. Take one step forward, bend at the knee, and extend the other straight back so the heel is down on the floor. Bend at the elbows and lean forward to stretch the calves. Hold for 30 seconds, switch, and repeat.
Bend the back knee a little for more intensity. Feel the sensation in the calf—but not the pain. This is an easy exercise that can help loosen the calf muscle, preventing plantar fasciitis and other ailments.
Quadriceps Stretch
Quadriceps are the large muscle collective on your thighs’ front side. Stretching them helps reduce backache and increases balance and walking capacity. Muscle flexibility is essential, especially at an advanced age.
Begin by lying on your side with your legs straight and together. Bend at the top knee and place that foot flat on the floor in front of the bottom leg. Reach behind you, grab the bottom foot with the same side hand, and pull your heel towards your buttock until you feel a stretch in your thigh. Hold for 30 seconds, release, and go to the other side.
Hamstring Stretch
Hamstring stretches are suitable for everybody and are essential to enable hip and knee movements to occur correctly. Sit on the floor as part of your routine and extend one leg. Reach for your extended foot and pull gently towards you, ensuring the leg is still extended. You’ll feel a stretch in your hamstring. Hold the stretch for 15 to 30 seconds and repeat three times. Deep breathing while on the stretch can help the muscles relax more.
Shoulder Stretch
Now, shoulder stretches increase mobility in the shoulder joints. Those stretches relax their muscles and facilitate daily activities for patients with cerebral palsy.
Stand or sit with your back erect. Extend one arm upwards, bending it slightly at the elbow so that it reaches toward the middle of your upper back. Hold the elbow of the raised arm with your other hand and pull it across the other side. Hold for 30 seconds, then repeat the process on the other side.
Shoulder stretches come with the benefit of Improved postures. Reduction of muscle tension or spasm-induced pain. Improvement of daily functions and mobility. Prevention of muscle contractures that could result in reduced range of motion.
Cardiovascular Aerobic Exercises
Cardiovascular health may be affected by cerebral palsy due to the restrictive limitation on mobility that can often lead to limited physical activity. However, special aerobic exercises for cerebral palsy are now available to help improve cardiovascular health. Some of the best include:
Wheelchair Aerobics
This exercise method might suit those who are significantly affected in the lower extremities or have hemiparesis. These exercises involve moving the upper body while sitting in a chair. Ensure to engage in them 2–3 times a week, start slowly, and steer clear of overexertion. Consult with your physician before initiating any exercise program. With regular practice, wheelchair aerobics can promote health and independence.
Dancing
In its simplicity, dancing is an excellent aerobic exercise that improves balance, coordination, and flexibility. Play some of your favorite, faster music and dance to the rhythm. Even periodic small movements can be therapeutically beneficial. Begin slowly and increase in exertion as endurance develops.
Physical Therapy Lower Limb Exercises for Cerebral Palsy
Regular physical activity and exercises may help people reduce spasticity, prevent contractures, and support mobility. The following exercises are specially designed for people with cerebral palsy:
Wheelchair Pushes
A life with cerebral palsy calls for a daily exercise regimen to promote health and mobility. A wheelchair push is a physical exercise that one can perform almost anywhere. These involve wheeling a manual chair, mainly using hand rims to work arms, legs, and core muscles. You can also use your feet for full-body pushes.
Wheelchair Push-Ups
This fantastic activity further enhances upper body strength in a person with cerebral palsy. From the wheelchair, with hands on the armrests, keep the back straight and bend at the elbows to bring your chest down towards the chair seat. Push back up and return to the starting position.
Resistance Band Training
Exercising with resistance bands will allow you to develop progressive resistance while performing the workouts. Performing movements in a controlled and structured manner will enable you to build muscles by working out those muscles.
Band Walks
First is the so-called Band Walks, where you wrap a resistance band around your ankles. Remember to bend your knees and keep your back straight. The following thing you have to do is step from side to side, walking against the resistance the band provides you. It’s a fantastic exercise that helps to strengthen the legs and hips.
Seated Band Rows
You will sit at the very end of the chair and put your legs out in front of you. Breathe in, lean forward with your hips, and hold a resistance band that you’ve placed under a chair with your hands on each end. Then, you will pull it up, really focusing on pulling from the shoulder blades.
Aquatic Exercises
Water-based exercise, or water therapy, for that matter, offers buoyancy and resistance beneficial to an individual living with cerebral palsy. It provides the water as a support system, which acts like an obstacle, easing the load on muscles and joints. Let’s now look at some of the most effective water exercises suitable for folks with cerebral palsy:
Pool Walking
Move slowly in the water to float. Use the pool’s edge for support or walk along the wall for security. The water reduces your joints’ weight, allowing you to move quickly with less pain.
Water Treading
Water treading is incredible for engaging the whole body. Circle your arms around as you give your legs a great kick. This strengthens the core muscles that support stability and balance.
Swimming
Swimming is another full-body, all-inclusive exercise program ideally suited for those with cerebral palsy. There’s something you can do according to your capability, whether it’s freestyle, backstroke, or even the breaststroke. Just ensure that if needed, use the kickboards, pool noodles, or water weights for support and swim at a pace you can afford to attain the best results.
Cerebral Palsy Exercises: How to Handle It
This is considered a lifelong movement impairment that can be diagnosed during early childhood. Movement, muscle coordination, and balance are severely affected. There is no cure for this condition, but hope is not lost in exercises designed, in essence, for people with cerebral palsy. The requirements here are to modify them with an interest in realizing the best results toward life quality through improving physical capacities.
A customized exercise program for cerebral palsy can help increase strength, flexibility, and independence. This program may involve a variety of activities, from more flexible stretches to strength-building regimens that aid in muscle control and aerobic activities to pump the heart. These exercises are good for physical health and increase self-esteem and overall well-being.
Bottomline
Progress can be seen as very slow, but one can gain dramatic changes with continued practice. An individual may find it easier to get through the day and need fewer assistive devices, with an improvement in quality of life. Regular exercise can also help manage such common problems related to cerebral palsy as joint stiffness and muscle spasms in a way that makes daily life easier to navigate.