Why Exercise Matters: The Benefits for Adults with Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a disorder that can have a huge impact on your daily activities.
Participating in various exercises can improve strength, flexibility, and balance, whilst improving quality of life.
How does cerebral palsy impact daily activities?
Daily activities can be a challenge for many adults with cerebral palsy.
The impact of movement and coordination can make everyday tasks such as bathing, dressing, and cooking difficult.
However, it is important to stay active.
Exercise can help improve strength, balance, and flexibility whilst improving mobility and coordination.
Why exercise is essential when living with cerebral palsy
Living with cerebral palsy can make it difficult to stay physically active. Being inactive can then impact the ability to carry on with daily activities without becoming too tired.
Introducing exercise into your daily routine can increase your range of motion and prevent further progression.
Any form of exercise, even a small amount, can have amazing health benefits, such as:
Improved mobility
Increased quality of life
Maintain a healthy weight
Reduced risk of osteoporosis
Decreased risk of falls
Reduced risk of stroke
Reduced risk of heart attack
Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease
Remember to always start a new exercise program slowly.
What are some exercises that can be beneficial with cerebral palsy?
Many exercises can be helpful in improving strength, balance and flexibility.
Stretching
Stretching is one of the most important forms of exercise you can do with cerebral palsy and can include:
Joint rotations
Leg stretches
Arm stretches
Your physical therapist can put together a personalised plan for you to continue safely at home.
Swimming
Taking part in any form of aquatic exercise will make moving easier. Being in the water provides resistance when exercising, which will help strengthen muscles.
Resistance Bands
Resistance band training is useful for strengthening muscles and are available in different tensions.
As these exercises can be done sitting or standing, they can be convenient to those who are in a wheelchair.
Wheelchair Exercise
There are several ways to exercise when in a wheelchair. Some of these can include:
Wheelchair aerobics
Wheelchair pushes
Wheelchair pushups
Cycling
Cycling on a stationary bike is an excellent exercise for cardio fitness. It can improve muscle coordination and strength whilst increasing your range of motion.
Pilates
Pilates can be done in a studio or with a physiotherapist. The exercises are flexible and can be tailored to your needs.
Targeted training can improve balance and stability whilst building inner core strength.
Tips for exercising with cerebral palsy
It is essential to find an exercise routine that works well for you and is enjoyable. If you enjoy it, you are more likely to stick with it.
Be sure to consult your health professional before starting any new exercise routine.
Start slowly and build up gradually, and don’t try to do too much too soon. Remember, even a little bit of exercise is beneficial.
Find an exercise program that you like. This will help increase the likelihood that you will stick with it.
Be sure to wear comfortable and safe clothing including shoes when exercising.
Stretching before exercising is an essential step to prepare your body for exercise. Don’t forget to stretch afterwards as well.
Listen to your body and stop exercising if you feel any pain.
Don’t start an exercise routine without consulting a doctor first.
Exercise is vital for all adults, but it can be even more critical for those living with cerebral palsy.
Taking a personalised approach to exercise, based on your individual needs will ensure that you focus on what your body requires.
Explore exercises you enjoy and make them form part of your daily routine. Movement is essential for a healthy body and mind.