Cerebral Palsy Exercises for Adults & Children

Exercise physiology is often the first step when it comes to supporting someone with cerebral palsy. Exercise is beneficial to all people, and for people with cerebral palsy, its benefits are particularly significant. From keeping the body flexible and strong to improving mobility and preventing injury, there are many ways in which cerebral palsy exercises help people enhance their level of independence and improve their quality of life.

How cerebral palsy exercises for adults and children can help

The main goal of exercise physiology is to make movement more efficient, and this is accomplished through addressing specific areas such as coordination, balance, flexibility, strength, posture, pain management, and gait training. Exercise programs for people with cerebral palsy can be tailored to achieve many different goals, including:

Increased flexibility

with stretching exercises to limit the impact of spasticity and aid ease of movement.

Increased coordination

to help you with tasks that require coordinated muscle activity, including gross motor skills such as gait, and fine motor skills such as writing.

If you have cerebral palsy, the right exercise program can help to prevent movement problems from progressing over time. Exercise also helps to keep you fit, which enhances your physical and mental health and wellbeing and reduces your risk for developing chronic health conditions. When you exercise with others, such as in a walking group or hydro class, you get the added benefits of social interaction and meeting new people.

Cerebral palsy exercise programs

The great thing about regular exercise is that it will not only help you feel better but also improve your functional capacity. The qualified and dedicated health professionals at Active Ability specialise in working with people with intellectual disability and neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy. We design exercise programs that consider your current level of function and goals. The aim will always be to support you to achieve greater independence, health and quality of life.

Exercise programs for children with cerebral palsy

For children with cerebral palsy, the right exercises can encourage healthy development of gross motor skills such as crawling, walking, jumping, running, kicking, lifting and throwing.

Types of exercises for adults with cerebral palsy

People with cerebral palsy can have high or low muscle tone, or a mix of both. For some people with cerebral palsy, muscle tone can even vary throughout the day. High muscle tone can cause spasticity and stiffness, while low muscle tone causes weakness and too much flexibility, or ‘floppy’ muscles. Gait training exercise for cerebral palsy, as well as flexibility and other exercises, are often used to improve mobility as well as avoid painful tightening of the muscles that sometimes requires surgery.

Strengthening exercises for cerebral palsy

Strength training can make daily activities easier by increasing the strength of specific muscle groups. For example, you might do hand and wrist strength exercises so you are able to open tight jar and bottle lids more easily. Strength training may also build muscular endurance. For example, you might train your shoulder muscles so you can hang out a full load of washing.

Cerebral palsy balance exercises

Some people have a type of cerebral palsy that causes difficulties with balance and coordination. This can lead to unsteadiness on your feet and a higher risk of falls. Balance exercises can help to improve sensory awareness and balance control. Exercise physiologists also use individualised targeted exercise to assist people with posture. Training that involves standing, kneeling, and sitting can help improve posture. Many types of exercise can help – the important thing is to work with an exercise physiologist who’s qualified to assess your needs and create a program that’s personalised and suitable for you.