Exercises For Spastic Cerebral Palsy: An Overview

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Exercises For Spastic Cerebral Palsy An Overview
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Understanding Spastic Cerebral Palsy

• Spastic Cerebral Palsy inhibits the motor
  function of the patient, which means they will
  have stiff, jerky movements, and painful muscle
  contractures.
• Spastic Cerebral Palsy is a subtype of Cerebral
  Palsy, which is a group of neurological disorders
  that affect movement, muscle tone, coordination,
  and motor skills, caused by damage or
  abnormalities in the developing brain.
• It typically occurs due to injury or infection
  before, during, or shortly after birth.
• Spasticity refers to abnormal muscle tightness,
  which occurs because the damaged part of the
  brain cannot send messages correctly to the
  muscles.
• As a result, the patients movements become stiff
  and jerky and they cannot perform tasks properly.
• About 77 of all Cerebral Palsy diagnoses are
  Spastic Cerebral Palsy.

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Symptoms of Spastic Cerebral Palsy

• Inability to lift head as a baby
• Difficulty standing and walking
• Difficulty changing ones position in bed
• Difficulty standing up after sitting and vice
  versa
• Inability to fully extend joints
• Abnormal reflexes
• Difficulty with fine motor skills such as
  buttoning a shirt
• Scissoring thighs
• Abnormal posture and gait
• Slurred speech
• Hoarse voice
• Drooling
• Difficulty eating and swallowing

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Exercises for Spastic Cerebral Palsy

• Calf stretches Place your hands on a wall and
  take a long step back so that you are standing
  with the front knee bent and the back leg
  stretched out with the heel raised. Slowly lower
  the heel and hold for 20-30 seconds before
  repeating with the other leg.
• Joint rotations Rotate your ankle, knee, hip,
  shoulder, wrist, and elbow joints in circular
  motions, in both directions.
• Hamstring stretch Sit on the floor with both
  legs straight in front of you and lean your body
  forward. Keep leaning forward up until you feel
  any discomfort and then hold for about 30 seconds.

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Exercises for Spastic Cerebral Palsy

• Arm over chest Stretch one arm across your body
  and use the other arm to press it against the
  chest and hold it in place for about 20-30
  seconds. Repeat on the other side.
• Shoulder stretch Raise an arm and bend it behind
  your head while using the other hand to press
  against your elbow until you can feel the
  stretch. Hold it for 20-30 seconds.
• Trunk tilts Lie on your back and rotate your
  upper body to one side without moving your lower
  body. Hold for 20-30 seconds and then get back to
  neutral position. Repeat on the other side.
• Trunk twists Rotate your upper body to one side
  while in a sitting or standing position, and hold
  for 20 seconds. Repeat on the other side. Your
  feet should be flat on the floor throughout.

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Thank you.