Cerebal Palsey Guide

Cerebral palsey treatment requires a very customised approach to the patient’s needs.

Who is involved?

Apart from the participation of the patient, cerebral palsey treatment requires the support and nurturing influence of the patient’s family, teachers and caregivers in all phases of treatment. These phases involves planning, decision making and finally, treatment. Beyond this core group, cerebral palsey treatment involves a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals. Below are some of the specialists involved in caring for a sufferer of cerebral palsey:

• For a child, primary care is provided by a paediatrician (a doctor that specializes in the medical care of infants, children and adolescents), pediatric neurologist or pediatric physiatrist (physician who specialises in physical medicine).
• For an adult, primary care is provided by a family doctor, neurologist and physiatrist. An adult also may, depending on mental/physical capabilities, benefit from attendant care, special living accommodation, transportation/employment assistance services.
• Other specialists may include:
  • Orthopaedist or orthopaedic surgeon (whose role is to, based on the cerebral palsey symptoms and signs, predict, diagnose and treat associated muscle, tendon and bone problems)
  • Physical therapist (designs and supervises special exercise programs to improve movement and strength). Physical therapy can supplement special education, vocational training, recreation and leisure programs
  • Speech and language pathologist (whose role is to diagnose and treat communication problems)
  • Occupational therapist (to help the patient learn life skills for home, school or work)
  • Social worker (helps the patient and family obtain community assistance, education and enroll for training programs)
  • Psychologist (helps address negative or destructive behaviours, guide the patient and family through stresses/demands presented by cerebral palsey). Adolescents may need counselling to cope with emotional and psychological challenges.

Health care team provides feedback to primary care provider, who synthesize the information into a comprehensive treatment plan and monitor’s patient progress.

What does treatment entail?

Cerebral palsey treatment entails various therapies and aids. Below we describe the use of physical therapy, speech therapy, psychotherapy, alternative therapy and mechanical aids in treating cerebral palsey.

• Physical therapy

It is important to begin physical therapy as soon as the patient is diagnosed with cerebral palsey. Why? Muscles and tendons normally stretch and grow at the same rate as bones. Spasticity prevent stretching, and muscle growth may not keep up with bone growth. Muscle become fixed in stiff, abnormal positions. So? Involves daily exercise using range of motions to help prevent weakening and atrophy (wasting) of muscle or contracting into rigid muscle. May be combined with special braces to stretch spastic muscle – helps prevent muscle contraction. It also improves child’s motor development. For child especially preparing for school, focus gradually shifts from the above to activities associated with daily living and communication: Exercises are designed to improve ability to sit, move independently, perform tasks (dressing, writing, using bathroom). Devices require the skills which have to be mastered in order to reduce demand on caregivers. For example, orthotics help control limb position and walkers help patients walk. These devices help the child obtain some degree of self-reliance which build self-esteem.

• Speech therapy

Athetoid cerebral palsey sufferers commonly have problems pronouncing words (dysarthria) and swallowing (dysphagia). These problems result in eating disorders and drooling. With speech therapy, it is possible to improve on the effects of dysarthria and dysphagia. For example, sufferers can use special communication devices (computers, voice synthesizers).

• Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy can complement physical therapy. This involves the use of praise, positive reinforcement, small rewards to encourage the child to master tasks that promote muscular/motor development (e.g. use weak limbs, overcome speech deficits, stop negative behaviour like hair pulling and biting).

• Mechanical Aids

Mechanical aids help to overcome physical limitations. E.g. Velcro shoe straps, motorized wheelchairs, computerized communication devices (e.g. attach light pointer to headband and voice synthesizer – enables child who is unable to speak or write the power of communication using nothing but simple head movements)

• Alternative therapies

Alternative therapies include the use of acupuncture, massage, osteopathy, homeopathy. Support groups also form an effective alternative as such groups can help the patient, family and caregivers meet the challenges of cerebral palsey. There are many government-supported and private voluntary groups which provide information about prevention, diagnosis, treatment, clinical and support services.

You may also be interested in:

• Treating Complications of Cerebral Palsey
• Cerebral Palsy Treatment
• Cerebral Palsy Prognosis
• How Do You Prevent Cerebral Palsy?
• Cerebral Palsy Surgery
• Medication for Cerebral Palsey
• Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis
• Complications of Cerebral Palsey
• Cerebral Palsy Symptoms And Signs
• Risk Factors For Cerebral Palsey

Tags: cerebral palsey | Cerebral Palsy Treatment | Cerebral Palsy Treatments | CP Treatment | Treatment for Cerebral Palsy | Treatment of Cerebral Palsy | Treatments for Cerebral Palsy

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