Exercise Cerebral Palsy

Exercise and cerebral palsy

by | Oct 14, 2021

Exercise Cerebral Palsy

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is “a group of permanent disorders that affect movement and posture”1. The term “Cerebral” refers to the brain and “Palsy” refers to “lack of movement”1. Although CP is a permanent disability, significant functional and life changes can be made with assistance from beneficial therapies.

How many people live with Cerebral Palsy?

The Cerebral Palsy Register Report (2018)2 suggests that:

  • 34,000 people in Australia are living with CP
  • 1 in 700 Australian children are born with CP
  • 1 in 2 people living with CP experiences chronic pain
  • 1 in 3 people living with CP can’t walk
  • 1 in 4 people living with CP can’t speak
  • By 2050, it is expected that 47,601 people in Australia will be living with CP

Does Cerebral Palsy just affect movement?

There are many different types and presentations of CP. Even though CP is generally characterised by affected movement, the way people living with CP think, feel, behave and communicate can also be affected3.

What part of the body does Cerebral Palsy affect?

CP affects different people in different ways. Some people may develop a minor presentation, whereas others may be more physically impaired.

We can classify CP into four different categories based on areas of the body affected:

Types of Cerebral Palsy

Types of Cerebral Palsy

What are the different types of Cerebral Palsy?

The affected limbs can present in different ways. There are four main types of CP:

  • Spastic CP – Stiffness or tightness of the muscle group. Muscular stiffness then makes the muscle weak and people living with Spastic CP often have problem with walking and posture. Spasticity is the most common type of CP with 85-91% of people experiencing this type. 
  • Dyskinetic (Athetoid) CP – Characterised by uncontrolled movements. Movements usually alternate from slow to rapid. Dyskinetic CP is not as common as spasticity with 4-7% of people experiencing this type. 
  • Ataxic CP – Characterised by shaky movements with reduced balance and stability. People living with Ataxic CP will often have difficulty coordinating movements and lack depth perception. 4-6% of people experience Ataxic CP. 
  • Mixed CP –  When the person experiences more than one type of CP. Mixed CP is very rare. 

How do we classify the movement functions of Cerebral Palsy?

There are five levels that we use to classify a person living with CP’s ability to move, otherwise known as the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Understanding these classifications helps us to prescribe more individualised treatment plans. 

Classifications of gross motor functions:

Types of Cerebral Palsy

Types of Cerebral Palsy

 

Why is exercise important for Cerebral Palsy?

People living with CP have reduced physical activity levels compared to peers without disability4. Reduced access to the benefits of exercise can have serious health implications in the future. Although CP does not get necessarily worse with age, between 20-50% of people living with CP experience a deterioration in mobility as they enter adulthood5. When a person finds it more challenging to move and access the benefits of exercise, they are more likely to have reduced cardiovascular health, general strength, less range of motion, an increase in existing pain levels and potentially balance issues6.

The reduced ability to engage in exercise results in low muscle mass and low muscle strength that predisposes the person to sarcopenia7. Adults living with CP are twice as likely to develop heart failure, high blood pressure and asthma asthma and five times more likely to have a stroke8.

Exercise is medicine has never been more true for people living with CP. By engaging in regular physical activity/exercise, we are able to build up strength and fitness that can significantly reduce the chances of adverse health outcomes occurring.

Exercise not only plays a role in improving overall health, but is vital for improving physical function and independence. Building up the person’s ability to engage in meaningful activities and using exercise to help with activities of daily life will help improve the person’s quality of life. Exercise also provides an opportunity to build confidence through movement and can help to change the person’s perception of their physical ability.

An exercise professional has the skills and knowledge to design individualised exercise programs for people living with all types of CP to ensure that they have access to the benefits of exercise.

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Aban’s story

I am a 13 yo and I have quadriplegic cerebral palsy (ataxic GMFCS II). Some of the direct results of my condition include impaired motor functioning, poor muscle tone, very limited coordination of my voluntary movements and an impaired balance.

Over the past 11 years, I have received varying rehabilitative approaches and therapies provided by the cerebral palsy specialist clinic at the Children Hospital and early childhood intervention centre in Melbourne as well as other allied health practitioners both in Melbourne and here in Canberra. The immediate goal of these has been the prevention of complications that could affect all my body with a broad range of severity and complexity which could vary over time. I have engaged with physiotherapy and occupational therapies in the past that have been essential aspects of my care and vital to the attainment of my goals to avoid the further health complexities, improve my mobility and reach a certain level of independence.

Only a year ago my parents learnt about the role and value of exercise physiology in CP management and made the first contact with AXM in February 2021. The structured strength training program that my EP Caelan provided cleared our minds about the differences between exercise physiology and other physical therapies already involved in my rehabilitation process: 1st) my strength training program is focused on creating endurance and generating force in my muscles, and 2nd) unlike other therapies which are applied by the therapist, here I am the one who is actually carrying out and performing the movements in a planned number of repetitions; the effect on my body has been outstanding as I am overcoming poor physical structure and gaining agility and strength.

The greater impact of my strengthening program through exercise physiology has been in the maintenance of the integrity of my body which is helping me better involve myself in other therapies and achieve optimum rehabilitation.

–  Aban, AXM Exercise Physiology Client  (with assistance from her father).

References:

  1. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/cerebral-palsy
  2. Australian Cerebral Palsy Register Report; 2018
  3. Rosenbaum P, Paneth N, Leviton A, et al. A report: the definition and classification of cerebral palsy April 2006. Dev Med Child Neurol Suppl;109:8-14
  4. Thompson N, Stebbins J, Seniorou M, Newham D. Muscle strength and walking ability in diplegic cerebral palsy: implications for assessment and management. Gait Posture. 2011;33(3):321-5
  5. Morgan P, McGinley J. Gait function and decline in adults with cerebral palsy: a systematic review. Disabil Rehabil. 2014;36(1):1-9
  6. Opheim A, Jahnsen R, Olsson E, Stanghelle JK. Walking function, pain and fatigue in Adults with cerebral palsy: a 7-year follow up study. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2009;51(5):381-8
  7. Verschuren O, Smorenburg ARP, Luiking Y, Bell K, Barber L, Peterson MD. Determinants of muscle preservation in individuals with cerebral palsy across the lifespan: a narrative review of the literature. J Cachexia Sarcopenia. 2018;9(3):453-64 
  8. Jennifer M. Ryan, Mark D. Peterson, Anthony Matthews, Nicola Ryan, Kimberley J. Smith, Neil E. O’Connell, Silvia Liverani, Nana Anokye, Christina Victor, Elizabeth Allen. Noncommunicable disease among adults with cerebral palsy. Neurology, 2019

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WHAT does a Physiotherapist do?

A physiotherapist is responsible for guiding patients through the recovery process by offering a range of treatments that promote healing, improve mobility, and enhance overall quality of life.

Here are some of the key roles and services a physiotherapist provides:
  • Assessment and Diagnosis: During the initial visit, the physiotherapist will conduct a comprehensive physical assessment to understand the root cause of the patient's symptoms. This can involve movement tests, strength evaluations, and reviewing medical history to form a diagnosis.
  • Developing a Personalised Treatment Plan: Based on the assessment, a physiotherapist designs a treatment plan that addresses the patient’s specific condition and goals. This plan may include exercises, manual therapy, or other therapeutic interventions.
  • Manual Therapy: Physiotherapists often use hands-on techniques such as joint mobilisations, soft tissue massage, and stretching to relieve pain, improve flexibility, and restore movement in affected areas.
  • Exercise Prescription: One of the core components of physiotherapy is exercise rehabilitation. A physiotherapist will guide patients through targeted exercises designed to strengthen muscles, improve endurance, and enhance flexibility to prevent future injuries.
  • Education and Advice: Physiotherapists also play an important role in educating patients about their condition and how to manage it effectively at home. They provide advice on lifestyle changes, posture, and ergonomics to help prevent re-injury.
  • Post-Surgical Rehabilitation: After surgery, physiotherapists help patients regain their range of motion and strength through carefully structured rehabilitation programs.
  • Pain Management: Physiotherapists use various methods, such as manual techniques, electrotherapy, and therapeutic exercises, to manage acute or chronic pain and improve a patient’s quality of life.
AXM Physiotherapy physiotherapist Canberra Bruce Emil Terbio

At AXM Exercise Physiology, our physiotherapists are equipped with the knowledge and skills to provide elite-level care to everyone, from elite athletes to those dealing with everyday aches and pains. Our team works collaboratively with you to ensure your recovery and future health are at the forefront of our treatments.

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