FIGHTING Cerebral Palsy

American Fitness, Jan, 2000

For children and adults with cerebral palsy, simple movements are a challenge. However, their rehabilitation and therapy sessions rarely include fitness-related goals. Seldomly-available services for children often end or decrease dramatically at adulthood, according to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). It seems only logical that health-related physical fitness should be a key part of their rehabilitation program.

"Because of the dangers of inactivity, innovative forms of physical activity and exercise for persons with mobility impairment need to be developed and implemented," says Yvette Blanchard, Sc.D., P.T., and Johanna Darrah, Ph.D. "Ideally, these rehabilitation, physical education and exercise physiology programs would be offered in the community with practitioners from the respective fields."

According to Blanchard, a fitness program for persons with cerebral palsy should enhance health, function and mobility. Such a program should include:

* cardiorespiratory endurance exercises

* muscular strength training

* balance/agility activities

* body composition exercises

* flexibility stretching