Introduction
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term incorporating a group of disorders that began as early as childhood. The child holds impairments with coordination, muscular strength, motor movements, sensations, reasoning, thinking, and other concerns, but these may vary from individual to individual. Unfortunately, about 2 in 1000 live births sustain cerebral palsy. And there is no cure for the state while the child has to live with the condition. But, supportive therapies, medication, and surgery are there to reach and help the child.
Why Is a Physiotherapy Treatment Approach for Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder, though. It is an umbrella term referring to a range of conditions with posture, movement, and activity concerns often associated with co-morbid impairments and other diseases. So it is an entity of limitations with balance, movement, posture, coordination, muscle tone, motor skills, and oral motor functions. So, the child needs guidance and healthy stimulation by virtue of physical performance with their pain, contracture, and motor functionality. Physiotherapy is the best and often primary intervention for cerebral palsy as it aids through flexibility and strengthening exercises.
How Does It Work?
After a firm diagnosis, the child’s doctor or pediatrician directs the child with cerebral palsy to the physiotherapist. Firstly, the therapist manifests a medical examination comprehensively. In addition, he will perform several tests, interviews, questionnaires, and observations for the assessment of gait, posture, contractures, strength, flexibility, cognitive functions, sensory reflexes, neuromotor control, and respiration concerns. No two individuals rely on the same intervention, as it depends upon the level and severity of cerebral palsy. Then, the therapist organizes a patient-centered plan and physical approaches for the individual. Eventually, he will set that particular entity's overall goals and outcomes.
The Goal- A child with cerebral palsy lacks motivation more than treatment. So, the principal physiotherapy goal is to support the child in attaining potential. In addition, it holds the following objectives.
- Assist in reaching their full potential for physical fitness and independence while diminishing the consequences of physical impairments.
- Betterment over the quality of life of the individual, peers, and family members as they, too, play a role in the course.
- The therapy concentrates on movement and function, intending to improve and restore all aspects of well-being.
What Are the Physiotherapy Approaches for Individuals With Cerebral Palsy?
A licensed, accredited, skilled physiotherapist implements the intervention through utter guidance and sound settings. Rehabilitation and recovery of cerebral palsy demand a multidisciplinary approach, which is met with the therapy itself. The typical process includes the following treatment and activities:
1. Neurodevelopmental Treatment:
It is one of the early and common physiotherapy interventions for cerebral palsy based on the fact that the brain and the muscles are connected by neural networks. So, the functional motor abnormalities in children with cerebral palsy contribute to the underlying dysfunction of neural networks. Therefore, the treatment is approached towards the neuroadaptive changes.
2. Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy:
This is commonly employed in the hemiplegic type of cerebral palsy, where one side of the limb is paralyzed. The children depend on unaffected arms consistently, whereas paralyzed arms remain unused. This could result in the deterioration of affected extremities when they are not raised and used over time. So, constraint-induced movement therapy makes the person forcefully engage in affected arms to move and raise.
3. Stretches:
Stretching is primed towards the soft tissue tightness relief in aspects of spastic muscles. Manual implementation enhances movement, motor function, and thus walking efficacy. Passive stretching is when physiotherapists move the affected limbs and muscles for you to stimulate them. So, passive activities would regain movement. It can also be achieved by succeeding methods.
- Weight-Bearing: Here, the force is exerted on the knee over prolonged stretches by means of standing frames and tilt tables. So, Prolonged standing matters.
- Serial Casting: The tight joint is secured and immobilized in a semi-rigid padded cast. This is employed for the management of muscle spasticity and contracture.
- Manual stretching by means of a machine or splints.
4. Hydrotherapy:
It is also referred to as aquatic therapy, where water-based exercises are recommended to be performed in a controlled environment. This therapy contributes to support and buoyancy, enhancing muscle relaxation and physical movements. This therapy improves strength, mobility, and flexibility for people with cerebral palsy.
5. Physiotherapy Exercises:
The commonly applied effective physiotherapy for improving muscle strength, motor functions, and quality of life incorporates the following:
- Muscle Strengthening Exercises: They are structured for the betterment of spastic agonists' muscles and the weak antagonist ones.
- Static Weight-Bearing Exercise: Standing frames and tilt-tables are used in the means of weight-bearing to stimulate anti-gravity muscles while diminishing spasticity and preventing hip dislocation.
- Functional Exercise: This considers aerobic and anaerobic training. In addition, the treadmill and static bicycles are utilized for the development of gross motor skills.
- Body Weight-Supported Treadmill Training: The child presents with stepping movement before walking, standing, and bearing weight. So, the child is supported in a low-frequency treadmill to incite those stepping movements.
- Electrical Stimulation: Electrical stimulation is employed to advance muscle tone, strength, and function. It incorporates a portable, safe, non-invasive electrical setup that a patient or parent can use.
- Hippotherapy: Hippotherapy is known for therapeutic-allied horse riding. This is known to reduce motor disability.
What Are the Benefits of Physiotherapy Against Cerebral Palsy?
Though cerebral palsy is often a lifetime condition, physiotherapy aids in sustaining the state and disabilities. Regaining physical mobility concerning disabilities is the primary benefit, but it holds additional benefits like:
- Improvement of motor skills.
- Expansion of the range of motion.
- Rebuilds muscle tone and reflexes.
- Diminishes the risk of bone deformities.
- Betterment of posture, balance, flexibility, strength, and coordination.
- Increases independence and amends the quality of life.
- Alleviation of pain and discomfort.
Conclusion
Often from birth, one can seek help from healthcare professionals, including physiotherapists, and receive appropriate care. Physiotherapy is meant for rehabilitation. Physiotherapy treatment approaches for people with cerebral palsy aim at improving posture, mobility, and overall physical performance. Therefore, the physiotherapist will assess the child or adult and contribute a tailored treatment plot to help one to sit, walk, roll over, crawl, stand, and perform certain head movements
