Treatment and Therapy for Cerebral Palsy
The type of treatment applied varies between individuals and depends on the severity of the cerebral palsy type. The focus of the treatment is the attainment of the highest possible level of independence; relieving stress for the client as well as for the caregiver. A team of healthcare professionals, family, community, school figures, and caregivers, all contribute to developing and seeing the treatment plan through.
Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, exercise therapy, recreational therapy (i.e swimming effective at exercising muscles) , hippotherapy (horseback riding), therapeutic electrical stimulation (TES), speech language pathology, botox (reduce spasticity), and hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) are some key treatment and therapy options listed in grey literature.
These treatments may or may not work for individuals with CP, or may work in varying combinations for each unique individual. These therapies alongside adaptive equipment and assistive technology increase independence, range of motion, increased communication, and increased employment opportunities.
The following list provides links to access further information on measures used to treat CP:
Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, exercise therapy, recreational therapy (i.e swimming effective at exercising muscles) , hippotherapy (horseback riding), therapeutic electrical stimulation (TES), speech language pathology, botox (reduce spasticity), and hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) are some key treatment and therapy options listed in grey literature.
These treatments may or may not work for individuals with CP, or may work in varying combinations for each unique individual. These therapies alongside adaptive equipment and assistive technology increase independence, range of motion, increased communication, and increased employment opportunities.
The following list provides links to access further information on measures used to treat CP:
- Surgery; surgical reduction of spasticity can be achieved by selective dorsal rhizotomy. Orthopaedic, arm, and hand surgical procedures correct muscle contractures, reduce spasticity and deformities, and improve function: http://www.sciencedirect.com.proxy1.lib.uwo.ca/science/article/pii/S0140673604162077#
- Injections of botulinum Toxin A (Botox) according to individual spasticity patterns, demonstrated clinically meaningful short-term improvements: http://www-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.proxy1.lib.uwo.ca/pubmed/23428186
- Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT)- Studies addressing CIMT, reported the therapy produced motor function improvements in children with cerebral palsy hemiparesis: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14754942; as well as behavioural neurohehabilitation http://www-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.proxy1.lib.uwo.ca/pubmed/23449867
- Wii Therapy- A great way to engage young children to therapy http://www.wiihabilitation.co.uk/cp.shtml
- Use of Virtual Reality (VR): Snider et al. (2010) conducted a study in which they reviewed 13 electronic databases to identify all types of studies examining VR as an intervention for children with CP. They concluded that VR has potential benefits for children with CP. However, the current level of evidence is poor and empirical data is lacking. Future methodologically rigorous studies are required. The use of virtual reality to treat children with CP was a topic critically appraised at Creighton University, in Omaha Nebraska in 2012, and can be reviewed in the link that follows: http://ot.creighton.edu/community/EvidenceReviews/OTD541_Sp_2012/Manegre_Critically_Appraised_Topic_March_2012.pdf