Cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy affects every person differently. Often treatment is available throughout childhood and adolescence, but once in adulthood it is greatly reduced or absent altogether. Neurological physiotherapy can be useful when movement is affected and gives rise to limitations in work or leisure activities.

Progress with treatment will vary greatly depending on the initial problem and degree of difficulty experienced by an individual. Regular exercise and gentle stretches may reduce stiffness and improve muscle length and strength and control.

We start off with an assessment to analyse the particular difficulties and how they are caused.

Then treatment aims to:

• improve or maintain muscle control
• minimise abnormal patterns of movement
• minimise postural asymmetries
• maintain mobility by providing appropriate stretching exercises
• re-align and activate appropriate muscles to perform functional activities
• provide a safe and encouraging atmosphere to explore and enhance the person’s movement skills
• assess the requirement for and source appropriate therapy equipment, as necessary
• treat secondary problems such as lower back pain, osteoarthritis etc.

During your treatment, your therapist can also give you advice on appropriate exercise programmes to improve or maintain movement abilities.

If you would like to find out more about how we treat cerebral palsy, please contact Sally Watt, our Practice Manager, on (01306) 888171 or email her.

Unfortunately, we are unable to give specific advice to anyone about their condition without first assessing them, as everyone has different clinical needs and goals.