Rehabilitation for Cerebral Palsy in Children

Condition analysis:
Cerebral palsy is the leading cause of childhood disability affecting function and development. This disorder affects the development of movement and posture that is believed to arise from nonprogressive disturbances in the developing fetal or infant brain. In addition to the motor disorders that characterize cerebral palsy, which may limit a patient's activities, individuals with cerebral palsy often display epilepsy, secondary musculoskeletal problems, and disturbances of sensation, perception, cognition, communication, and behavior.

A rehabilitation specialist has an important role in helping coordinate the care of these often very involved patients as well as assisting with many aspects of care, including, but not limited to, those relating to spasticity management, therapies, modalities, bracing, sialorrhea, and insomnia.
Inpatient rehabilitation may be especially useful after orthopedic surgery or placement of a baclofen pump for children with cerebral palsy for intensive physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy. These patients receive therapy in at least 2 disciplines for 3 hours daily. A change in functional status following orthopedic surgery or baclofen pump placement may necessitate the need for inpatient rehabilitation, even if needed for family training for transfers.

Instructions:
Physical and Occupational Therapy: One of the defining physical characteristics of cerebral palsy is spasticity, which is unusually stiff, rigid, or tight muscles. Spasticity reduces a child’s ability to control muscle movement, especially in the hips, knees, ankles, shoulders, elbows, and wrists. Spasticity may also cause exaggerated reflexes, making movements look erratic or jumpy.

Our physical and occupational therapists have special training to help children with cerebral palsy maximize their ability to move, walk, and participate in everyday activities.

Our physical therapists offer simple stretching and strengthening exercises to help relax tight muscles. Additional exercises to increase muscle tone may help a child with cerebral palsy achieve better control of body movements. Physical therapy is also aimed at improving balance, reinforcing posture, and reducing the risk of joint problems due to uneven gait.

Occupational therapists help children control movement and coordination in the hands, which can help with writing, eating, dressing, and other routine tasks. Therapists help children who have more severe symptoms to find creative ways to meet everyday challenges.