Cerebral Palsy - Suggestions?

[the tax lady]

Greetings!Was wondering if any of you out there have experience or suggestions for working with a 2 1/2yr old who has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy? I spoke with her mother only briefly about her symptoms & current treatment & need to get more detail still.  From what she told me, I believe she was diagnosed with spastic cp.  When she gets excited, angry, etc.. she tenses up & has been treated with muscle relaxers & a botox injection in her hip/thigh area which has helped.   Mom said warm baths soothe her too.  I think that mt to encourage general relaxation would be a great place to start.  I want to refer her to an acupuncturist and a cranial sacral therapist I know. I also suggested to mom that she could learn how to work on her at home (mom & dad are clients and know how good massage is!)Was wondering if anyone has any first hand experience and would love your input.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Cerebral Palsy - Suggestions?

Heather, I haven't worked on children with CP. My patients were adults with varying degrees. But it actually was my concern for a good friend with CP that led me to learn more about massage.

I think its wonderful work you are doing. Involving the child's parents is very important.

Have you read these?

http://www.massagemag.com/2001/issue92/cp.htm

http://www.massageandbodywork.com/Articles/DecJan2003/RightCombination.htm

http://www.raysahelian.com/cerebralpalsy.html

Gi

 

[Jippee]

I have a daughter with CP. Her's is more severe than what you describe. Make no mistake. YOU HAVE THE POWER. There is nothing an acupokiest or anyone else can do that will have a greater effect on that child than the power in your hands. This is what massage is for. This is where Swedish Gymnastics was born.  Start now. XFF- muscles of the lower leg. ROM exercies at the ankles, toes, knees, hips. Be very gentle. Teach Mom/Dad how to do these exercises with her everyday. At this age it can be turned into a form of play.   This baby will be trying desperately to learn to walk soon, and experiencing frustration.  The trick is to not express any of your empathic frustration, but keep up the big smiles and encouragement.  As this kid gets to be a few years older there will be greater opportunity for appliances, and PT to help improve her mobility,(If the parents can't afford these things, get them in touch with the Shriners. They buy their way into heaven by paying for top-notch care for these kids.).  The work that you do with this child now will contribute to the efficacy of her treatment later on. You have an opportunity to directly benefeit another human being starting right now. Don't pass it off onto someone else.  

 

[Here_comes_the_Sun]

I have also worked with a more severe form of CP, and the above advice is wonderful.  I also found it helpful to do the sessions at the individuals home... and they took a nice long bath right before I was scheduled to arrive.  Another thing to look into is state funded organizations that offer PT, OT and speech therapy.  It is called Infant Toddler Services here in Kansas.  I often times found activities for the client to do that would occupy her mind so she wasn't so focused on what I was doing.  There seemed to be a nervous component to her stiffness and this helped alot!

 

[Lavender]

All the above statements are correct, work a lot on ROM, and movement.  Keep the motions fluid, and make sure all your strokes are toward the heart.  My major concern is to make sure that you always work with them with their head elevated, NEVER work with them flat or with any pressure or fluid going to their head.  Find out if they have a shunt, and where it is located, stay away from that area.  I would also only work them in a supine position.  Definitely show the parents how to massage them since it definitely adds to the care.

 

[Douglas B]

One thing to remember obout CP is that , just like any other injury, it can be suffered at many different degrees. Sometimes it involves all of the limbs and involves injury to the brain, resulting in retarded mental developement.   But it doesn't always involve mental injury.   CP can be regarded as a mixed blessing.  The whole reson that CP ocurrs is to protect the brain from injury, in the fetus, before birth.   When the brain of the fetus is threatened with lack of circulation, for any one of several reasons, all blood is routed to the brain.  This happens at the expense of the peripheral portions of the body.  The degree to which it effects the limbs, and eventually the brain, is determined by the duration and extent of suffocation.    My daughter is the brightest star in my sky.   She is the sweetest, friendliest, most considerate kid in her class and rarely has anything disparraging to say about anything, or anybody.    She's smart as a whip, and has her own sense of humor that can often humble me with its strength and innocence.    Many people equate CP with brain damage.  Tragically, this is sometimes the case.  The thing to keep in mind, however, is that CP was designed to protect the brain.  Some children are coming into their broken bodies with perfectly strong minds.  Often, the child with CP who is having trouble with coordination and speach is normal in mind, and challenged only in body.