Helping Children with Cerebral Palsy: Locomotor Treadmill Training or Strength Training

There are many different types of cerebral palsy. “Types of cerebral palsy are classified by the type of movement problems caused by brain impairment, or by the parts of the body that are affected.” (Mecham, 1986)

My Bachelor’s in Exercise Science has equipped knowledge of the human anatomy and physiology, and exercise testing and prescription for people of different ages and health conditions. During my attendance at the University of Texas at Arlington, I joined the Little Mavs Movement Academy directed by Dr. Priscilla Cacola. I volunteered for a year in this program; while in the program I had the opportunity to learn about developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and how it interferes with activities of daily living and learning of

Cerebral palsy is a brain and nervous system disorder that was discovered in the mid nineteenth century by a group of people with a generous commitment of improving the lives of people with disability (MyChildatCerebralpalsy.org, 2014). One of such individuals is William Little, who pioneered customary studies relating to cerebral palsy by using his childhood disability to substantiate the causal relationships between natal complications and physical and

Cerebral palsy cannot be cured although early support and therapeutic intervention can help children’s development.

Cerebral palsy occurs when there is lack of oxygen to a baby’s brain when being delivered. This causes brain damage which can then cause problems when trying to reach development norms. Cerebral palsy affects a child’s

Olama, K.A., & Thabit, N.S. (2010) performed a randomized controlled trial to determine the efficacy of whole body vibration (WBV) and a designed physical therapy program versus suspension therapy and the same designed physical therapy intervention in balance control in children with hemiparetic CP. Criteria for inclusion for the study were children with hemiparesis cerebral palsy from both sexes ages 8 to 10 years old, able to understand commands given to them, able to stand and walk independently with frequent falling, and balance problems ( as confirmed by the Tilt Board Balance Test). The exclusion criteria consisted of presence of any medical condition such as vision and hearing loss, cardiac abnormalities, and musculoskeletal disorders. Children who met the criteria (n=30) were recruited from the outpatient clinic, College of Physical Therapy, Cairo University The randomization was done according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Treatment allocations were done by the selection of a closed envelope randomly selected. Parents and children were informed of the treatment allocation after the selection, procedures were explained to both of them and signed assent and consent were obtained.

As a PA I deal with clients with cerebral palsy according to nature and extent of their deformity. I always ensure that I use effective communication skills when assisting people to move or reposition.

This topic could help me determine if the use of CIMT is successful and could help my future clients that suffer from cerebral palsy.

Children born today have a fifty-fifty chance to live to be one hundred years old or more, and the quality of their lives will be affected by the research and empirical data that is being generated by organizations dedicated to helping developmentally disabled adults live more meaningful lives. These programs also serve as a benchmark in the battle against cerebral palsy in general and provide valuable best practice examples, thereby influencing the American health care system as a whole. While the search for a cure continues, cerebral palsy represents a debilitating disease that can adversely affect the ability of sufferers to provide for the basic needs of living, but with appropriate treatment and care, many are able to accomplish far more than most observers might believe in terms of their independence, productivity and integration with larger American society, goals that are also legally mandated. To determine how these positive clinical outcomes are possible, this paper provides a review of the relevant peer-reviewed and scholarly literature concerning the role of United Cerebral Palsy in delivering high quality care pursuant to the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 as overseen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to determine the effect of this oversight on a representative

This study consisted of seventeen children with cerebral palsy (CP) that participated in an 18 week riding program which was held at a therapeutic horseback riding center in New York. This particular program used the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) test which has shown great amounts of validity and reliability when assessing motor function in children with CP. Another test used was The

Cerebral palsy is a disease of development of movement and posture which cause limit activity and disturbance in motor and sensory development in a child. A boy of age 5, is suffering from Cerebral Palsy. He has difficulty in walking due to neuromuscular impairment, difficulty in swallowing due to alteration in oral motor function, delayed growth and development due to decreased caloric intake. I will educate parents to provide a well-balanced diet, how to use an assistive device like a wheelchair, ankle-foot orthosis, and teach them to feed slowly and keep semi-upright position of a child during eating and drinking (Perry, 2013, p.1726).

A study conducted by Mahani, Karmiloo, and Amirsalari (2011) compared the effectiveness of the Modified Adeli Suit therapy (MSAT), Adeli Suit therapy (AST), and Neurodevelopmental therapy (NDT) for children with cerebral palsy. All of the main contributors to this article have received higher-level degrees, and the article was published in a reputable occupational therapy journal. This clinical randomized trial studied a total of thirty-six children that have cerebral palsy and who met the inclusion criteria. The thirty-six children were randomly placed into one of three groups: Modified Adeli Suit therapy, Adeli Suit therapy, and Neurodevelopmental therapy, and each child received their assigned therapy for two hours a day, five days a week for four weeks (Mahani, Karmiloo, & Amirsalari, 2011). The AST group received one hour of prep work, and the second hour was spent wearing the suit where they completed vigorous exercises. In the NDT group, the children spent the entire two hours performing passive and active movements. Lastly, the MSAT group conducted movements similar to the NDT group, during the first hour, and spent the second hour in the suit, where they performed fun and meaningful goal based activities. The Gross Motor Function Measure was used at zero, four, and sixteen weeks to compare the effectiveness of each treatment. The results show that the MSAT was the most effective treatment, and there was no significant difference in outcomes between the AST and NDT groups (Mahani, Karmiloo, & Amirsalari, 2011). However, any of the three intense therapies produced positive improvements. The experimenters believe that the shortened amount of time spent on each movement and the goal based activities correlated with the positive outcomes in the MSAT group (Mahani, Karmiloo, &

Today there are many severe disability’s that effect individuals on a daily basis. Cerebral Palsy is a condition eliminates control over a person’s movements and the way the body works. The movement disorder is non curable but can be helped with appropriate assistive technology. In this paper you will learn more about Cerebral Palsy, broadening your knowledge on the disease and giving you a better understanding in your respected field of the rehabilitation.

Because CP describes a group of neurological and physical abnormalities, people affected by the disorder may have other neurological and physical problems. CP may not be noticeable at birth. Children with CP develop predictable developmental milestones slowly because of their motor impairments, and these delays in reaching milestones are usually the first symptoms (Gale Enc). Doctors diagnose CP by checking the infant’s motor skills, looking for developmental delays, and considering the child’s medical history. Many Doctors use the Early Motor Pattern Profile (EMPP) to help in their evaluations. The EMPP indicates variations in muscle tone, reflexes, and movement and is used to identify children during the first year of life who are at risk for the development of CP. The EMPP can be done during a routine office visit. Observation and minimal handling can detect abnormal motor patterns, making it quick and inexpensive. EMPP is the beginning of evaluation and intervention (“Early” 692). CP is a neurological disorder affecting motor control. It is the most common physical disability in childhood. It is a lifelong condition that varies from person to person. It can be very mild or extremely severe. There is no known cure, and the cause is not completely understood. The four main categories of CP are spastic, athetoid, ataxic, and mixed. Spastic is stiff and difficult movement. Athetoid is involuntary and uncontrolled movement. Ataxic is a disturbed sense of balance and

An observation was held in the alpert Jewish community center. A variety of children between the ages of three to five were observed in activities ranging from physical and motor to social and cognitive development “The Gross Motor Function Measure was designed specifically to evaluate change in gross motor function in children with CP (Russellet al1989). It consists of 88 items