Cerebral Palsy is a non-progressive disability that arises due to damage caused to the brain cells or tissue. The complication sets in children during the pre-natal stage or in the early infancy phase. The injury or the abnormal development of the brain restricts the normal nerve signals from reaching the body parts. This results in troubled motor movements, unusual posture, and loss of limb coordination. In cerebral palsy, the severity of the symptoms depends on the area of the damage and the extent of the cell loss. Thus, the treatment of cerebral palsy varies depending on the level of impairment.
Physiotherapy
Patients with cerebral palsy are treated with cell therapy at NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute, situated in Navi Mumbai, India. Post cell treatment, the patients are exposed to various therapies depending on their needs. Physiotherapy are sessions of exercises aimed at treating the ‘high tone’ of muscles that causes stiffness and spasticity. They also help in controlling the low muscle tone that causes excessive flexibility and muscle weakness.
Before treatment, the physiotherapists evaluate the child’s motor difficulties to create a perfect treatment plan (depending upon the severity of the condition) with a set goal. They involve various types of exercises and muscle relaxing techniques along with special equipment to improve his/her movement.
For cerebral palsy, physiotherapy can provide benefits to patients with various types of disabilities, that include:
- Spastic Cerebral Palsy: Physiotherapy reduces muscle tension and jerky actions with exercises like stretching. This can help to relieve muscle stiffness in individuals.
- Dyskinetic or Athetoid Cerebral Palsy: Physical exercises for individuals with dyskinetic cerebral palsy helps to enhance muscle tone. They also help in maintaining a correct posture.
- Ataxic Cerebral Palsy: Various exercises are involved to improve balance problems faced by individuals.
The Benefits Of Physiotherapy
The physiotherapists include both exercises and massages to bring flexibility in the joints and muscles. For cerebral palsy physiotherapy not only improves mobility but also prevent painful muscle stiffness. Strengthening exercises such as pull-ups and weight lifting increases muscle tone. Hence, physiotherapy can improve:
- Balance
- Strength
- Flexibility
- Pain management
- Limb coordination
- Posture
- Overall health
The main goal of physical therapy is to make movements easier for children with cerebral palsy.
Apart from improving mobility and balance, physiotherapy prevents the possibilities of contractures (hardening of muscle tissues) and joint dislocations. Physiotherapy helps in increasing the level of self-reliance in people.
Orthotic Devices
Apart from exercises, orthotic devices such as braces are also worn by individuals to improve mobility. Functional orthotics devices are made for individuals with cerebral palsy. They are customized to fit every individual’s needs.
Some of the orthotic devices for individuals with cerebral palsy include:
- Foot orthotics
- Knee orthotics
- Ankle-foot orthotics
- Spinal orthotics
- Trunk-hip-knee-ankle-foot orthotics
- Knee-ankle orthotics
NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute offers various rehabilitative therapies to their patients’ post cell treatment. The physiotherapists at the hospital have vast knowledge and experience in treating those with cerebral palsy and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
