Cerebral palsy is the name used to refer to lifelong conditions that impact coordination and movement, caused by development issues in the brain before, during or soon after birth.
Symptoms are not typically obvious just after birth but they start to manifest themselves during the first two or three years, such as delays reaching milestones like not sitting up by eight months, weakness in the arms and legs, clumsy movements and seeming either too stiff or too floppy.
Vision problems, learning disabilities, speaking problems and difficulty swallowing may also manifest.
Severity of these symptoms can vary significantly, with some people severely disabled and others only experiencing minor problems.
There’s currently no cure for the condition but there are treatments available that can help ease symptoms and help people be as active and independent as they can be.
Physiotherapy can prove particularly beneficial, with techniques like stretching and exercise used to help maintain and potentially improve physical ability and any issues with movement.
This is, in fact, one of the most important treatments that someone with cerebral palsy can have, with the goals being to encourage movement, enhance muscle strength and prevent weakness, as well as preventing muscles from shortening and losing range of movement, which can affect bone and muscle growth.
It may be that you’re given a programme of exercises to do at home and it can be helpful to build it into your daily routine so as to prevent any secondary problems from appearing. Treatment goals will also be identified by your physiotherapist and these are often to do with your typical everyday activities, such as getting dressed and washing.
If you’d like to find out more about physio for cerebral palsy, get in touch with us here at Maidenhead physio centre Clear Physio today.
