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According to some reports, more than 17 million people worldwide have cerebral palsy. Furthermore, according to another report, nearly 4% of children are born with this defect. Although there are numerous treatments available, proper exercise produces better results. Source: indianexpress, CDC.
Adults can easily engage in cerebral palsy exercises; however, kids’ activities should have some exciting features to engross the children. Children are also prone to anxiety; therefore, you must include anxiety reduction therapy and CP exercises.
This blog post will discuss some fantastic, kid-friendly exercises to help your kid move more fluidly.
Understanding Cerebral Palsy
Composed of the two words, cerebral denotes a brain disorder, and Palsy is a term used to describe muscle weakness or other issues. Thus, CP is the term used to describe a medical condition in which a person has restricted movement due to a brain disorder.
CP primarily affects motor and developmental skills. These conditions also affect movement, muscle tone, and posture. In addition, it affects the child’s growth. In addition, it left behind symptoms of impaired movement and coordination and speech-related problems due to an immature brain. Another one of the main issues is difficulty swallowing and eating. However, it also includes mental health and developmental issues.
Importance of exercise in Cerebral Palsy
For children with CP, physical activity is a blessing.
Aiming for at least 60 minutes of physical activity five days a week is advised for kids with CP. Each child’s needs are unique, so keep that in mind at all times. Contacting your child’s physical or occupational therapist is the best way to get personalized exercise advice for their particular medical situation.
By doing so, you can maximize your child’s potential for improvement and make sure that all the critical areas are being focused on. Exercises for a range of motion are beneficial for all children with CP.
With a therapist’s guidance, kids can also practice passive motion exercises. The child should move their body appropriately to stimulate and stretch the muscles and avoid blood pooling in the limbs from inactivity.
Among the crucial exercises could be:
- Neck rotations
- Head turns
- Shoulder shrugs
- Arm circles
- Elbow extensions
- Wrist rotations
- Finger clenching
- Finger parting
- Marches
- Lateral leg raises
- Knee extensions
- Ankle rotations
Fun Exercises for Cerebral Palsy
Engagement is most important when dealing with kids—listing some of the physical activities kids may like to indulge in and help their body movement.
Dancing
Dancing is an excellent exercise for learning how to move multiple body parts simultaneously. Songs and dances that go together are especially beloved by kids. It’s a great way to host a dance party for kids because they typically like music regardless of its beat or rhythm. The young listener’s interest is maintained by their anticipation of the song’s conclusion.
Swimming
Your child can develop their muscles and practice walking by getting in the pool. Because of the density of the water, people feel particularly buoyant in water. Your child will be able to focus on walking correctly while also releasing a lot of pressure from the joints. The viscosity of water makes it difficult to move quickly through it. This natural resistance will strengthen your child’s muscles. Your child can participate in a wide variety of different exercises and games in a pool.
Related post: What Does Fitness Mean?
Bike Riding
Riding a bike for kids with CP is a great way to increase their leg strength, work up a sweat, and improve their cardiovascular health. It is recommended to use a tricycle or at least have training wheels, it will help the kid, and they won’t fall. Pedals will aid in directing your child’s motions because they can typically only move in one direction. Another way to prevent your child’s feet from falling off the pedals is to use ones with straps.
Treasure hunt
Children particularly enjoy adventure games, where they have a variety of quests to complete. You can send your child on a short treasure hunt by hiding a few items throughout the house. You must make sure to place the items in surprising or challenging locations. It is proper to discover what actions they must take, such as sitting on their knees or standing up straight.
Playground
Taking them to the park and letting them play on the playground can quickly motivate your kid to be more active. They are able to use their muscles to climb, run around, and swing back and forth. Some swing sets on playgrounds can be adjusted so that even older children with balance problems can swing. Playing on a playground is also beneficial for children’s sensory systems.
Virtual Reality
Children with CP frequently experience social anxiety because of their limitations. They need to be inspired and given confidence. A virtual reality journey that allows them to escape and gives them access to fantastic locations like the moon, beaches, and mysterious mountains is an excellent form of therapy.
Conclusion
Cerebral Palsy exercises are fundamental; however, you cannot force your child to go for them. The activities mentioned above also work as anxiety reduction therapy for the kids. Also, they feel more engaged if they opt for a better exercise schedule. The key to motivating kids to exercise is emphasizing their abilities rather than their limitations. By staying active and moving around, cerebral palsy patients can avoid several other health problems. Try out a few of these games with your kids to see how easy it is to keep them active and interested.
