Child Have Cerebral Palsy? 3 Ways Physical Therapy Can Benefit Them
If your child has cerebral palsy, you know they have many daily challenges. This could be from holding something to talking. Fortunately, you can help them with the physical problems of this illness by taking them to a physical therapist. Below are three ways this type of therapist can help so you can decide if you would like to take your child to one.
Help Them with Coordination
It is common for someone with cerebral palsy to have problems with coordination. This could be from being unbalanced when they walk or problems with hand eye coordination. No matter what, the therapist can use many techniques to help them with this problem.
The physical therapist may ask your child to stand on one foot for a certain amount of time, and jump in place. They may ask your child to walk slowly putting one foot directly in from of their other foot. The therapist may use stationary bicycles, as pedaling the bike can help with coordination. Swimming may also be used for this problem. The therapist will know techniques to help your child eat with an eating utensil, write, and drink through a straw or from a cup.
Improve Their Strength
The physical therapist will teach your child how to do exercises that will help increase their muscle strength. They will likely use fun games and other tasks, and they will teach you and your child how to do these things at home. The physical therapist may use weights, and put weights on their ankles and wrists. They may have equipment that allows your child to pull down a set of weights with their hands or lift weights using their legs.
They may use water to help with strength, such as taking them to a swimming pool and helping them do swimming movements.
Help with Posture
Your child likely has problems with posture and this can result in pain in their back, shoulders, etc. Fortunately, a physical therapist can help with this. They may ask your child to lie down on a table on their stomach and the therapist will know techniques that will help improve alignment. If your child is not able to walk, the therapist can help them have better posture while they are sitting.
Talk with your child's doctor about physical therapy to see if they think it would benefit them. If so, they can suggest a therapist in your area.