Training Program For Cerebral Palsy Essay Research

Training Program For Cerebral Palsy Essay, Research Paper Background and Purpose This training program is for Bob, a male eleven year-old student with cerebral palsy. This requires him to use a wheelchair most of the time although he is able to stand and walk for short distances of approximately 30 feet when there is something to hang on to for stability. With more muscular training, that distance could be increased greatly as the only reason he cannot continue is fatigue and therefore the risk of falling or other injury. It should be noted that an assistant will be needed for this program. Bob also has limited extension at the knees and limited dorsiflexion at the ankle. He is underweight for his height as he is 4′11″ and only 77 lbs. but this could be due to the lack of

muscular development in the legs and thighs. Lord Roberts/Ellen Douglass School in the Winnipeg School Division has a program running where students with disabilities take a bus to the BoniVital Archibald Swimming Pool every Wednesday afternoon. This is a perfect location for the training sessions as it provides a fun environment to exercise in, he can walk with less than normal body weight and Bob is able to swim. The pool is 25 feet wide and 60 feet long with an increasing depth from 2′6″ to 4″; it is the smaller of the two pools at the complex. The only disadvantage to this is that the school only goes once a week and the children only get a half-hour per group of kids to be able to swim. This doesn’t leave a lot of time for a full training program, therefore exercises

are also needed for home and more in-pool training is required during a public swimming time. Through his training, Bob should gain in the areas of balance, flexibility, and muscular strength and endurance in the lower limbs. All of these contribute to one personal goal for Bob: independence. With a better ability to take on all of the days tasks, Bob would be able to live his life with a lot less aid from others. He could leave his chair if there were an obstacle that it disabled him from doing and manage to overcome it himself. Bob is too young for the PAR-Q questionnaire however I was told that all of the children had to consult a doctor before participating in the swimming classes. Explanation of Exercises for Assistant Stretching – Hamstrings, Calf muscles These stretches

can be done at home but when Bob is at the pool, this portion can be done in the hot tub to help relax the muscles. Have Bob sit and try to extend his knee joint while you just help him by putting one hand on his thigh and applying a slight pulling pressure with the other hand that is holding the back of the calf. This will stretch his hamstrings. Also help him dorsi-flex (lift toes upward) his ankle as a stretch. Range of motion is normal at all other joints, those are the only two that need special attention. Walk in pool – All-around lower body Hold your arms straight out so that Bob may hold onto your wrist or hands for stability (he will slowly fall forward when not holding onto anything). Try not to bend your elbows as it doesn’t give Bob enough room to walk properly.

Let him decide how fast to go; if you move to fast he is light enough that he will just start to float in the deep end and fall in the shallow end. Reverse Leg Lifts – Gluteus maximus, Hamstrings Have Bob lay on his stomach and raise his entire leg to the ceiling then slowly lower back down to the ground Bent-Knee Leg Lifts – Iliopsoas While sitting, have Bob flex his hip with his knee in a flexed position, then slowly return Quadriceps Extension – Quadriceps In a sitting position, Bob should extend his knee and slowly lower it again. Hamstring Curls – Hamstrings Standing and using the handles of the wheelchair for balance, bend one knee and return it to original position. Squats – Quadriceps, Gluteus maximus Bob does have enough strength to do squats in the pool but