Exercise therapy for cerebral palsy. A set of exercises

Cerebral palsy is a serious pathology of a chronic nature, which is part of the progressive group and requires constant and regular therapy in view of brain diseases. This ailment manifests itself to a greater extent in partial physical, intellectual and psychological failure, as well as the inability to completely control your body.

This inconsistency is explained by the fact that the patient's brain ceases to send signals to the muscles for motor activity, it is for this reason that it is not possible to control most of the movements. The reason for this deviation is more often abnormal development inside the womb, difficult childbirth, birth asphyxia and hypoxia, as well as infections suffered by the mother during pregnancy.

Cerebral palsy is not a sentence, but there are a lot of techniques, medications, a set of exercise therapy exercises, which will help to partially restore the child's health and bring his life closer to normal and full-fledged.

Rules and features of exercise therapy for cerebral palsy

Exercise therapy for cerebral palsy is a set of exercises that are an excellent option for treating a chronic ailment.

The main objectives of this technique:

• development of the abilities of voluntary inhibition of movements;
• reduction of muscle hypertonicity;
• increased motor coordination;
• increased range of motion in the joints.

Children with the problem of inhibition of muscle activity do not have the ability to function normally physically, and this moment is important in rehabilitation.

The main goals of the exercise therapy complex include the following areas:

• strengthen and improve the body as a whole;
• help restore body work to the maximum;
• normalize blood flow and metabolic processes in the area of ​​special damage to the body;
• fully or partially regulate metabolic and neurovascular disorders;
• prevent the appearance of adhesions in the areas between tissues and nerve sheaths;
• strengthen weak muscles;
• develop coordination of movements to the maximum;
• help in the fight against various concomitant ailments, such as problems with the spine, impaired mobility of the spinal column, and others.

The exercise therapy technique is based on the selection of a set of exercises so that a child with cerebral palsy can regularly perform the complex and not get tired, and it was given to the patient quite easily. It is thanks to the systematic approach that good results are achieved. An individual complex is selected for each child, taking into account his deviations and the characteristics of the development of the body.

Exercise therapy for cerebral palsy has shown good results in the rehabilitation of children. It is thanks to regular exercises and a properly selected set of exercises with each child that be sure to work a specialist who can correct the training program, it is possible to achieve positive results.

The earlier classes with the baby are started, the more likely it is to completely restore the impaired functions, since the slowdown and distortion of speech often provokes mental retardation.

Contraindications

Exercise therapy for cerebral palsy is a set of exercises that have only a positive effect on the child's body, but if the baby diagnosed with "hyperkinetic form", physical activity has some limitations:

• it is better to avoid exercising on simulators, exercises with weights;
• do not use jumping exercises;
• run.

All of these exercises increase muscle tone, so before you start doing them, you need to prepare your baby. Children with serious ailments are contraindicated to exercise on simulators.

Main complex

Exercise therapy for cerebral palsy is a set of exercises that are specially developed for each child individually by a specialist. Be sure to take into account the complexity of the course of the disease, the individual characteristics of the organism, concomitant ailments.

But each of the developed complexes necessarily includes the following exercises:

• to stimulate general activity;
• to improve the dynamics of motor functions;
• for better muscle relaxation;
• so that the child is comfortable performing them in a lying or sitting position;
• to reduce primitive reflexes;
• on tactile and visual sensations, since children with cerebral palsy have limitations to perception;
• helping to normalize respiratory function;
• are designed in a playful way to make the baby feel comfortable.

  

Rehabilitation specialists, after examining the child, conducting comprehensive diagnostics, select a special complex exercises, explain to parents the goals and objectives of the rehabilitation program, what is the effectiveness of each exercises. Rehabilitation specialists help parents learn to communicate with their baby, learn all the basics of a rehabilitation program, and teach a program for homework.

To activate motor functions

Exercise therapy for cerebral palsy is a set of exercises that necessarily include techniques aimed at developing the motor apparatus. Most children with a similar diagnosis simply cannot walk, they need help to learn how to move independently. In the event that the disease has a negative effect on the peripheral and central nervous system, there may be a problem with the movement of the arms and legs. In medicine, this problem is called tetraparesis.

To strengthen the child's coordination and movement skills, it is required to increase the baby's degree of control over his movements and for this every day such a complex is used:

1. Starting position - sitting on your heels. The child should try to kneel down with the help of an instructor, one of the parents may act. An adult simply takes the baby by the shoulders and holds him parallel to the hip part.
2. The child remains sitting on his lap and begins to sway from side to side. So that he does not fall, the adult supports the baby under the armpits during this exercise. This exercise will help your child learn to shift the weight of the body from one leg to the other. In this case, the child should try to tear the second leg, which remains free, from the support, spreading his arms to the sides.
3. Put the child on a chair, put the legs on the floor. The adult stands in front of the child and takes his hands, pulling them slightly to help the child learn to get up from the chair.
4. Put the baby on his feet, feet to each other in one line one after the other. An adult makes light pushes in the back. And then into the baby's chest to help the baby understand what it means to maintain balance.
5. In a standing position, you need to slightly swing the child's body to the sides so that he tries to take a step.

This simple complex should be done daily. Regular exercise will increase physical activity and help the baby learn to walk independently without the help of an adult.

To work out the joints

It is very important to teach the child to control all the movements of his body and to strengthen, if possible, each of the joints. The thing is that cerebral palsy often provokes joint pain, seizures and the development of related pathologies.

To help the joints, they should be developed, and for this, special exercises will come in handy:

1. Put the baby on its back. One leg is extended and fixed by an adult under the weight of his body or is held by his hand. And the second must be gradually bent at the knee joint. You need to try to press the thigh to the stomach, and then slowly return to its original position. Repeat similar manipulations with the second leg.
2. Turn the baby on its side. Hold one knee in a bent position and slowly move it to the side, return it to its original position and also repeat with the other limb.
3. Stand facing the table. Lean the stomach against the support so that the legs hang freely. The limbs must be alternately bent and then unbend at the knee joint, leaving the legs suspended.
4. Put the child on his back and the adult slowly bend the leg at the knee, and then, if possible, level it as evenly as possible.
5. Put the child on his stomach, put a roller under the chest, and then take him by the hands to raise body, lifting the body from the roller, perform springy movements, but so that without effort and discomfort for baby.
6. Put the baby on his back. Bend your arms at the elbow, while keeping your face turned to the side. An adult helps the baby to bend the limb, while turning the head in a different direction.

Stretching

This complex will help children with cerebral palsy improve stretching. With its help, it is possible to reduce the level of severity of the pathological process in the back and spinal column, to improve the condition of the affected by the disease of the spinal cord and its nerve endings. After a daily and correct approach, it is possible to significantly strengthen the muscles of the legs, which has a positive effect on confident movements not only of the legs, but also of the arms.

Do the following exercises daily:

1. Put the child on a flat surface, you can on the floor or bench. The legs are straightened, the body is positioned in such a position that a right angle is created. Having exhaled, the baby should try to lean forward as low as possible, if possible, then with his fingers reach the feet. An adult should try to help the baby to bend as low as possible, while only gentle spring pressure on the back is performed.
2. Place the baby on his stomach, put his hands along the body. Hands slowly turn to the floor and the main emphasis is placed on them. Leaning on his hands, the child should raise the chest off the floor. The kid stretches the muscles of the biceps, imitating movements resembling push-ups. During this exercise, an adult should make sure that the baby does not throw his head back strongly, breathing should be even and calm.
3. A child diagnosed with cerebral palsy lies on his back, arms extended along the body. An adult keeps count: at one time - the child raises his legs above his head, without bending his knees, puts the limbs behind his head as far as possible, by two - returns to the starting position. The adult keeps the count and makes sure that the hands remain pinned to the floor.
4. The child sits on the floor, legs are spread as far as possible to the sides. Slowly bend one leg at the knee, touching the heel to the inner side of the thigh of the other leg. The second movement with the other leg touch the bent knee of the leg, the heel of which rests on the thigh. Then the hands come into play: the right hand grasps the left knee, and the left hand moves behind the back to the waist area. The adult at this moment slowly turns the child's head to the left so that the chin touches the shoulder. The knee remains flat on the floor.

If you perform this complex daily and strictly follow all the rules, you can significantly improve the overall health of the child with cerebral palsy. Such gymnastics gives especially good results if it starts from an early age. You need to remember that the earlier you start classes, the better the result will be.

A set of relaxation exercises

Rehabilitation is an important stage after an illness, not only in adults, but also in children. But adults take a lot of effort and time to recover. In children, everything happens much faster, because the child's body is more malleable. But it is important not to delay, but to start training as early as possible - as soon as the doctor permits.

Very often, children with cerebral palsy have muscle hypertonicity, so adults need to do everything possible to relieve the child of this unpleasant symptom. There are special exercises that allow you to reduce or even completely remove hypertonicity.

The complex includes the following exercises:

1. In order for the arms and legs of the little patient to rest, he just needs to lie on a hard surface, on one side of the limb to be securely fixed so that they do not move, but the patient does not feel pain. You can use weights, such as putting small bags filled with sand on your arm and leg.
2. The free arm, located on the other side of the body, bends at the elbow, the forearm in a stationary state helps to hold the adult. The arm remains in this position until the tone in the muscles decreases. An adult should help the child shake the brush, move it in different directions, and make several circular movements.
3. The exact same steps should be performed with the leg. While the fixed arm and leg on one side touch the baby's abdomen, the adult helps to hold the shins and abduct leg in the area of ​​the hip joint so that the child can perform circular manipulations that help to stretch the muscles to the maximum. The legs must be alternately alternated to perform such manipulations.

Breathing exercises

Therapeutic gymnastics for infantile cerebral palsy also provides for a period of remission, but only with regular performance of the entire complex. The schedule of the training program should include activities in the leisure of the little patient every day, no days off. This is the only way to achieve good results. Only constant classes will help the child to join the company of his peers and not feel uncomfortable. That is why adults should be patient and help the baby overcome all difficulties together, doing exercises and not showing weakness.

The child needs to learn how to perform not only all the exercises correctly, but also learn to breathe.

The complex includes such manipulations:

1. Adults should not only tell, but also show the child how to take a deep breath and exhale through the mouth and nose. You can use any of the auxiliary devices, for example, a balloon, a rubber toy, soap bubbles.
2. An adult pronounce vowel sounds, then raising, then lowering his voice. The child must repeat everything exactly. This exercise can be varied by alternating with singing or playing wind instruments.
3. You can restore breathing with a standard and effective exercise - grasp the arms up and fill the lungs with air, lowering the arms to exhale. This exercise can be made more difficult if part of the exhalation is performed with the head submerged in water.

Each exercise scheme should be developed by a specialist, making an emphasis on the individual characteristics of the child. Each child with cerebral palsy has a different course of illness, some can walk, but have speech problems, while others cannot even sit at all, not to mention other functions. That is why, when choosing a program, a bias is made on special important points so that the child develops and can serve himself.

Week schedule

Only systematic and painstaking work will help a child with cerebral palsy return to a full life. The training program designed for children with cerebral palsy is designed to take place daily. If the child is given a day off, then he may feel weakness from his parents and begin to be capricious, he will not perform the exercises in full force. An approximate training program is outlined in the table below.

Monday	It is better to start the morning with breathing exercises. Exercises for motor function. Finish with a stretch. In the evening, you can perform a complex for muscle relaxation and breathing exercises.
Tuesday	In the morning, while still in bed, you can do breathing exercises and stretching. In the evening, work on motor functions, have a relaxing massage.
Wednesday	Joint development, stretching. Relaxing gymnastics and breathing exercises in the evening.
Thursday	Respiratory gymnastics, working out the joints. In the evening, stretching, relaxation and light relaxing massage.
Friday	Correct breathing, development of motor function. Relaxation exercises in the evening.
Saturday	Joint development and breathing. Relax and stretch in the evening.
Sunday	You can make a day off for the child. But in order not to relax too much, breathing exercises will not be superfluous.

A child with cerebral palsy gets tired very quickly, it is not necessary to overload him strongly, it is enough to devote 20 minutes in the morning and in the evening. training, but only every day. The results will not be long in coming.

When to expect the effect

Cerebral palsy is a complex disease proceeding in a chronic form, it cannot be completely cured, but it is possible to do everything possible so that the child feels in the circle of peers. This will take patience and a holistic approach. Parents of a child with a similar diagnosis need to be patient and not expect quick results. The exercise therapy complex will need to be used for more than one year in order to eventually achieve positive results. But parents should remember that the sooner they seek qualified help, the greater the chance for the child to return to a full life.

Exercise therapy for cerebral palsy is not just a set of exercises, but exercises aimed at improving health child, to carry out high-quality prevention against various kinds of complications, to help develop speech and motor functions. When developing the complex, the specialist pays attention to whether the gait, posture is disturbed, whether there is weakness in the muscles and makes a bias towards those exercises that will help in a particular case.

Video about exercise therapy for cerebral palsy

Correctional and developmental gymnastics for children with cerebral palsy: