Exercises for Children Suffering from Cerebral Palsy

Introduction:

Proper development in childhood is needed for a healthy lifestyle. Neuromuscular and brain development during childhood is one of the key factors for a proper healthy future lifestyle. Diseases like cerebral palsy may hamper the development of the brain, nerves, and muscles in children. It is the most common condition associated with childhood disabilities and has affected almost two out of 1000 children worldwide. Exercise and daily physical activities have proven to be beneficial in such cases and may help to improve functional improvements.

What Is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a group of neuromuscular disorders that affect the normal functioning of nerves, muscles, and neuromuscular functions due to the immaturity of brain lesions and nerve lesions. These group disorders are permanent disorders causing developmental and functional impairments. The causative factors associated with cerebral palsy are;

1. Prenatal Causes: Congenital brain disorders and dysfunctions may cause cerebral palsy. Though genetic factors or inheritance do not directly influence cerebral palsy, the involvement of different genes like RHOB, FBXO31, DHX32, and ALK are associated with cerebral palsy. Apart from this, chromosomal abnormalities, infectious conditions, and intrauterine stroke (stroke in unborn babies) are associated with cerebral palsy. According to researchers, a lack of oxygen supply during brain development may cause a lack of oxygen supply to the brain during brain development and lesions in the white matter.

2. Perinatal Causes: Brain damage due to high fever, viral infections like cytomegalovirus (CMV), rubella (German measles), chickenpox, toxoplasmosis (a parasite infection), and jaundice (excess bilirubin in the blood) are related to cerebral palsy. Also, preterm delivery, abnormal delivery, and injury during delivery may cause cerebral palsy.

3. Postnatal Causes: Brain injury in early childhood and stroke in babies due to cardiovascular disorders may cause cerebral palsy.

The complications associated with cerebral palsy are:

1. Delayed development is the main feature of cerebral palsy. In children, a small head circumference is observed. Cognitive dysfunctions in children are common.

2. Children often show speech and hearing problems.

3. Muscular dysfunctions often cause muscle tightness, muscle spasms, and alterations in muscle tone.

4. A lack of muscular coordination and an alteration in the joint reflexes are observed due to neuromuscular abnormalities.

5. Children often face bowel dysfunctions, renal complications, and cardiac disorders.

What Are the Different Recommended Exercises for Children with Cerebral Palsy?

Different exercises indicated for children suffering from cerebral palsy are:

1. Cardiorespiratory Endurance Exercises: These exercises involve both the lungs and heart. These exercises involve various groups of muscles. As a result, the muscular activities increase. These cause increased muscular oxygen consumption. This leads to an increase in the activity of the heart and the lungs. Aerobic exercises belong to this group of exercises. Exercises like walking, running, swinging, and cycling belong to this group of exercises. Usually, these exercises are performed for three to five seasons per week. Such exercises should be performed for 10 to 15 minutes. The goal of these exercises is to improve the heart rate and respiratory rate. Monitoring the heart rate during these exercises is necessary. Also, monitoring the pulse rate is essential.

2. Muscle Strengthening Exercises: These exercises focus on muscle development, building muscle mass, and muscle endurance. Exercises that help to maintain muscle efficiency and muscle mass are weight training, stretching band exercises, and exercises with resistance bands. These exercises are done three to five times a week with 10 to 15 repetitions in each set. One to two sets are enough for children suffering from cerebral palsy.

3. Stretching and Mobility Exercises: These exercises are known for promoting joint movement and joint laxity. Stretching bands and resistance bands are used for this purpose. However, home equipment like towels can also be used. These exercises also increase neuromuscular coordination.

4. Anaerobic Fitness Exercises: These exercises increase metabolism and improve lean muscle strength. These exercises are short, fast, and high-intensity in nature. These exercises include pushups, lunges, high-intensity interval training, jump squats, and box jumps. Such exercises should be performed under expert supervision, as these exercises may cause different types of injuries. These exercises are performed one or two times every week with one or two sets in every time.

5. Traditional Exercises: Traditional physical activities such as yoga, pranayama, and Tai-chi are also useful for people suffering from cerebral palsy. Yoga and pranayams improve systemic conditions, organ functionality, and muscular coordination. These activities are beneficial for improving the condition of the heart and the lungs. Chinese exercises like tai-chi also increase neuromuscular coordination and muscle functioning. Also, these exercises improve cognitive abilities.

What Are the Advantages of Exercises for Children with Cerebral Palsy?

The advantages of exercises for children with cerebral palsy are;

1. Children suffering from cerebral palsy often suffer from cardiac problems. Aerobic exercises and cardiorespiratory endurance exercises improve heart functionality. The cardiac output, heart rate, and contractility of the heart of these patients improve with these exercises.

2. Cerebral palsy often causes an imbalance in the neurotransmitters. Exercises improve the secretion of different neurotransmitters and hormones. As a result, psychological and neurological complications are reduced.

3. Respiratory dysfunctions are common in patients suffering from cerebral palsy. Anaerobic exercises, aerobic exercises, yoga, and pranayamas improve respiratory functions and lung conditions.

4. Neuromuscular coordination is reduced in cerebral palsy. Exercise improves neuromuscular coordination and muscle functions.

5. Daily physical activities improve cognitive functions and cognitive ability. Thus, the memory functions of the children improve.

6. Cerebral palsy causes muscular dysfunctions. Exercises improve muscular functions, muscle strength, and muscle mass.

What Is the Role of Community in Treating Children with Cerebral Palsy?

Community and parents play an important role in encouraging children suffering from cerebral palsy to exercise. Parents should motivate and encourage children to do regular physical activities. Teachers, siblings, and other relatives also should encourage children to do exercises. Schools should provide physical instructors who can guide children. It should be kept in mind that children suffering from cerebral palsy need special care during exercise. Also, gymnasiums and schools must be equipped with emergency measures that can deal with any injury related to exercise.

Conclusion:

Cerebral palsy is one of the most common neuromuscular disability seen in children. Causative factors like genetic influence, injury during pregnancy, and infection during pregnancy may cause lesions in the brain and neurons. Different physical activities like aerobic exercises, yoga, muscle strengthening, and stretching are useful for children suffering from cerebral palsy. These exercises not only improve neuromuscular coordination but also cognitive abilities.