Exercise Equipment For Cerebral Palsy

Stretching is a useful exercise for every child.

Exercise equipment for cerebral palsy.

There are many different types of exercises that children with cerebral palsy can participate in for leisure and recreation. The key is to incorporate physical fitness into the child s life as early as possible so that it becomes a lifelong habit. You may need to modify the activity to meet your individual needs and physical abilities. One excellent form of stretching for cerebral palsy kids is yoga which is also a stress reliever 1.

Some of these exercises may require adaptive equipment such as a brace or wheelchair. These exercises not only help improve mobility but also can prevent painful muscle tightening that could require surgical correction. Flexibility exercises and massages are often used for children with spastic cerebral palsy. According to the cerebral palsy therapy website dancing can improve mobility breathing and circulation 1 3.

Adults with cerebral palsy may have to start at a lower level and slowly increase the amount of time or intensity of the exercise. Cerebral palsy can improve muscle fitness cardiorespiratory fitness and joint rom with exercise. Most children with cerebral palsy live well into adulthood. There is a misconception that children with cerebral palsy can t participate in exercises and physical activities.

Yet there are a number of exercises for all fitness levels and abilities. Six minute walk test or 6 minute push test measures the distance an individual is able to walk over six minutes on a hard flat surface. Types of aerobic activity can include arm cycling chair aerobics dancing jogging leg cycling rowing swimming walking water aerobics and wheeling. With that happy development however is the notion that adults with cerebral palsy should maintain the highest level of health and fitness possible.

A gait trainer will help children with cerebral palsy develop their walking skills. Strength training exercises are used to increase muscle tone in children with athetoid cerebral palsy. The exercise professional together with the person with cerebral palsy and their family will determine the most suitable measure to use. Some people with cerebral palsy might have impaired motor control throughout their upper body so a power wheelchair or power scooter will be ideal in cases of quadriplegia.

Resistance training for persons with cerebral palsy is important because it helps to increase their strength without an adverse effect on muscle tone. Fitness tests include 6. Dancing also is a fun and beneficial form of exercise. If a person cultivates a nutritionally sound rested and active lifestyle they are destined for a healthier path.