5 range of motion exercises for your cerebral palsy child

Most children with cerebral palsy have difficulty stretching, because their muscles are stiff and tight. This can result in decreased range of motion and function, as well as poor posture and balance. In order to help your child, you should incorporate some specific range of motion exercises into your child’s physical therapy program, depending on the severity of his cerebral palsy. Here are five range of motion exercises that will help improve your child’s ability to move.

1) Chest Expansion

The chest expansion movement is great for helping kids with cerebral palsy maintain their ability to use their respiratory muscles, or simply put - breathe. 

This exercise can also help with speech development as children are encouraged to make sounds during the movement. 

The chest expansion exercise involves lying on the back and breathing in through the nose, then out through the mouth while simultaneously making sounds. 

The therapist will press gently on the stomach and then release, mimicking a type of belly laugh. 

Pressure is applied against the bottom ribs when exhaling and releasing any air from lungs. 

Therapists may also instruct families to do this move as a simple cough exercise at home after every time they cough.

2) Leg Lifts

Bend the knees and squeeze the quadriceps to lift the legs off the ground. Hold each leg lift for 10 seconds, then put them back down. 

Leg Extensions

Bend one knee and place it on a chair or table in front of you. Extend that leg straight out behind you so that you are balancing on one foot, keeping your heel on the floor and toes pointed towards the ceiling. Hold this position for 20 seconds, then switch to the other side. 

3) Shoulder Shrugs

Shoulder shrugs are a great way to work out the muscles in your neck, upper back and shoulders. Perform this exercise by standing up straight with your feet shoulder-width apart. Let your arms hang at  sides of body, palms facing upward. Start the exercise by lifting both arms simultaneously up towards the sky as you exhale and then let them fall down to the ground as you inhale. Repeat this movement 10 times before switching over to the other side.

4) Floor Crawling

Floor crawling is a great exercise to help build strength and mobility. Start by having the child lay down on their stomach. Then, place the palms of their hands flat against the floor and push them up into a position where they are resting on their elbows. Once they're in this position, encourage them to lift one leg off the ground as high as they can without bending or curving it. Repeat this process with their other leg and then move onto doing it with both legs at the same time. If they are able to do all three sets of floor crawling, then you can start adding some resistance by placing something heavy on their backs, like a book bag or pillow.

5) Back Extension

1. Lie on the floor and place your hands behind your head, palms down. Bend your knees and raise both legs so that they form a 90-degree angle with the ground. Stretch back as far as you can without arching or curving through the spine. Hold this position for 5 seconds, then return to start position. Repeat 10 times.

2. Perform the same exercise as #1, but this time with one leg bent at a 90-degree angle with the other leg straight in front of you on the floor at a 45-degree angle from your body (knees are touching). Keep hips square during movement to maintain balance and minimize risk of falling over backwards due to weakness or lack of balance control.