Cerebral Palsy

By: Kaylyn Chapman

What is Cerebral Palsy?

• “Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that can involve brain and nervous system functions such as movement, learning, hearing, seeing, and thinking. Mostly Motor skills” (Blanchard).

• There are several different types of cerebral palsy. So many individuals differ with the disorder. Spastic Cerebral Palsy, Athetoid Cerebral Palsy, Ataxic Cerebral Palsy, Mixed Cerebral Palsy

Special Population/Disease

• Children and Adults with cerebral palsy (CP) have challenges with movement, function and mobility that last a lifetime.

• This disability is not progressive, physical challenges faced by this population stabilize once they reach adulthood. (Blanchard)

Max Testing• Max testing for Cerebral Palsy is difficult to

establish a specific guideline for a max test since each individual may suffer from a different type of CP. There should be a max test because exercise is very important, but it should be modified.

• Spastic Cerebral Palsy(stiff and difficult movement)

• Athetoid Cerebral Palsy(Involuntary and uncontrolled movement)

• Ataxic Cerebral Palsy(disturbed sense of balance and depth perception)

• Mixed Cerebral PalsyThere may be a combination of these types of cerebral palsy for any one person.

Concerns• Children and adults with CP also

suffer from poor physical fitness with consequently high energy costs and fatigue during daily activity.

• Unfortunately, rehabilitation and therapy services for persons with CP often end or decrease dramatically at adulthood, and rarely include fitness related goals.

• “The professional trainer should be aware of medications the client is currently using, and should document the presence of seizures or associated disorders involving the visual, auditory, sensory, hearing, speech or cognitive systems” (Blanchard).

• “Fitness for persons with CP should be viewed from the perspective of the way fitness enhances health, function and mobility” (Blanchard).

-cardiorespiratory endurance

- muscular endurance

-muscular strength

- balance/agility

-body composition

- flexibility

• Exercises and physical activity should be started gradually, with close professional supervision.

• Special safety considerations include

altering exercises for the specific individual’s needs.

• “The Universal Exercise Unit (UEU) is used to assist children in functional activities along with strengthening exercises within long intensive therapy sessions” (Euro-Peds).

• Health-related physical fitness for persons with CP should be developed in the same model as fitness for all of us: start early, be easily available and continue throughout the life span.

Concerns cont.

FITT modelF.I.T.T. Cardiovascular Training Muscle Training

Frequency 3-5 days/ week; Alternate exercise types.

Rest each joint area and muscle group 48-72 hours between workouts. Very intensive workouts may require extended rest intervals

Intensity 60-90% maximum heart rate (max = 220 - age) or 50-65% functional capacity

65-85% of 1 Repetition Maximum (1RM) Beginners should remain near lower end for safety

Time 15-60 Minutes work up to this slowly for safety

1-3 Sets of 6-14 Repetitions per exercise.

Type of exercise Walking; Cycling; Aerobics; Stair climbing; Swimming; Running.

All resistance exercise: Pneumatic, Computerized, Selectorized, Plate loaded; Free weights,

FITT model for CP

F.I.T.T. Cardiovascular

Training

Muscle Training

Frequency 3-5 days a week 2 sessions per week

Intensity 40-85% Depends

Time 20-40 min 1-3 sets of 8-12

Type Stationary bike, arm ergometer, walks or wheel chair pushes

Free weights or weight machines

FITT model for CP• “Guidelines for exercise training for persons with chronic diseases and

disabilities such as CP have been suggested:

• 1. For the person with CP, aerobic capacity and endurance can be enhanced through exercise done at 40-85 percent peak VO2 or HR reserve for 20-40 minutes per session, three to five days a week.

• 2. If the person is ambulatory, a stationary bicycle may be used, while an arm ergometer is recommended if the person is in a wheelchair.

• 3. Endurance training is best done through six-to-fifteen minute walks or wheelchair pushes, twice weekly or more often if possible.

• 4. Strength can be enhanced through the use of free weights or weight machines doing one, two or three sets of 8-12 repetitions, two sessions per week.

• 5. Flexibility exercises should be done for all involved and uninvolved joints before and after all types of exercise” (ACSM).

Jared Horomona

• This 30-year-old from New Zealand loves a challenge.

• Having cerebral palsy, his lack of coordination and strength in his hands adds to the difficulty of working with weights and other active sports.

• He has completed the New York City Marathon twice, on his crutches.

• Jared also dropped body fat while gaining muscle -(“Body For Life”).

http://bodyforlife.com/success-stories/jared-horomona

http://bodyforlife.com/success-stories/jared-horomona

Resources:• ACSM

• "Success Stories." Body For Life. EAS, 2012. Web. 17 Apr 2012. <http://bodyforlife.com/success-stories/jared-horomona>.

• . "Alternative Therapy for Babies with Cerebral Palsy & Other Gross Motor Disorders." Euro-Peds. Euro-Peds, 2010. Web. 17 Apr 2012. <http://www.europeds.org/alternative-therapy-babies.php>.

• Blanchard, Y.. Health-related fitness for children and adults with cerebral palsy . N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr 2012. <http://www.acsm.org/docs/current-comments/health-relatedfitnessforcawithcp.pdf>.