Helpful Tips

FOR MANAGING
CEREBRAL PALSY
At Flint Rehab, our goal is to help those
with neurological injuries become as
functional as possible. We know staying
motivated to practice daily stretches
and exercises can be difficult, so we
create tools to keep you going and
keep an updated blog with articles on
the latest and greatest of secondary
complications and treatments. Check
out all the resources Flint Rehab has to
offer, but let's start with our top 13 tips
for managing cerebral palsy.
Let's get to it.
TIP 1

Understand that recovery

starts with the brain.
Cerebral palsy is a motor disorder, meaning that it affects functions like
movement, balance, posture, and coordination.

While CP affects motor functions, it’s not caused by a problem with your
body. Instead, it’s caused by damage to parts of the brain that affect
movement before or during birth, or very early in life. By training the
brain to adapt, motor functions can improve!

People with CP mainly experience abnormal muscle tone, meaning that

they can have very tight muscles, loose muscles, or a combination of
both. This can affect how stiff your movements are and your control over
them. Continuously stimulating the brain by moving affected body parts
can help promote neurological adaptations.
TIP 2

Cerebral Palsy does not

affect intelligence.
Another important thing to understand about CP is that it doesn’t directly
affect intelligence. About 50% of people with CP have intellectual disabilities;
however, intellectual disabilities are caused by a different source of damage
to the brain.

Many people with CP have average or above average intelligence, so don’t

be so quick to assume!

While some may be unable to talk because of difficulties controlling

the muscles around the mouth, they may be perfectly capable of
understanding. If you’re experiencing difficulties communicating, make
sure to work with a speech language pathologist. They can help teach you
alternative ways to effectively communicate!

Each time you repeat an action, new connections strengthen in your brain.
TIP 3

Use it to improve it.

While damage to the brain is permanent, the brain can adapt! It has
neuroplasticity, which is its ability to reorganize itself.

The brain functions on demand, so the more you repeat a weak

movement, the better it gets at perceiving a demand for that function,
which promotes neuroplasticity.

Everything you repeatedly do and don’t do affects the brain, so make

sure to consistently stimulate it with highly repetitive practice!
TIP 4

Develop a routine.
Developing a routine can provide structure to your everyday life.

For example, stretching every day is a must for people with CP; however,
many think it’s boring or useless and avoid it. Practicing a task at the
same time everyday will help establish habits. Instead of feeling forced to
stretch, you’ll just get used to doing it.

Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition, so developing healthy habits can

help minimize the progression of secondary complications.
TIP 5

Prioritize nutrition.
Because cerebral palsy affects people at a very young age, it’s essential to
prioritize nutrition to promote normal growth and development. 

People with CP often need to eat more because their motor impairments
make it harder to move, which uses more energy. However, those with
more limited mobility may not need to because they’re not moving as
much. Make sure to speak with a doctor and dietician to find out how
much is ideal for you.

Additionally, some people with CP struggle to chew and swallow their

food, so it can be difficult to eat enough. Whether it’s blending your
food to reduce chewing, having more frequent meals during the day, or
using a feeding tube, it’s essential to prioritize nutrition during this critical
period of growth.
TIP 6

Do not take an
all-or-nothing approach.
The primary goal of many individuals with cerebral palsy is to walk again.
While walking can be a realistic goal for some, it should not be the end all
be all.

You can still be functional and have a high quality of life from a wheelchair.
By learning adaptive techniques to maximize their independence, many
people with cerebral palsy live fulfilling, active lives.
TIP 7

Focus on form.
While function is important, compromised form can cause function
to worsen. Remember, you are what you repeatedly do. When you
consistently walk incorrectly, it starts to become a habit.

It also strains the muscles, tendons, and joints, which can cause pain and
restrict range of motion. It’s essential to relieve this pressure and focus on
using correct form to improve long-term mobility, balance, and posture.

A physical therapist can help teach you ways to improve your form.
While it might feel uncomfortable walking with correct form at first, it
will get easier and more natural with practice. Wearing orthotic devices
like braces and splints can provide structural support so that even when
you’re not actively exercising, the muscles are mildly stretched and
properly aligned.
TIP 8

Modify the home to promote

functional independence.
Modifying your home can help you maximize your independence and
teach you how to be as functional as possible.

Examples of home modifications include:

• making sure the hallways are cleared/wide enough
• installing counters that are an appropriate height
• having hardwood floors because carpet adds resistance
for wheelchair users
• installing grab bars in areas where transfers are
frequently performed (by the bed, toilet, bathtub, etc.)
• owning a wheelchair accessible vehicle

Try to practice activities on your own as much as possible and only ask
for help when you really need it. By learning how to effectively care for
themselves, many people with cerebral palsy live independently without
caregiver assistance.
TIP 9

Take advantage of disability laws.

It’s important to understand that there are laws that can help people
with disabilities actively participate in society without discrimination.
For example, the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that
individuals are provided reasonable accommodations in employment,
state and local government services, public accommodations, and
telecommunications relay services.

Additionally, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ensures

that all children with disabilities have access to “free public education
that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet
their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment,
and independent living.”

Examples of reasonable accommodations include:

• Ensuring that the environment is wheelchair-accessible
• Permitting a more flexible schedule
• Supplying adaptive equipment
• Providing a notetaker/ interpreter/ reader
• Allowing extra time on assignments/exams

These laws help people with cerebral palsy get the support they need to
succeed. By understanding your rights as an individual with CP, you’ll be
able to better advocate for yourself.
TIP 10

Early intervention is ideal.

The brain never runs out of neuroplasticity. However, children’s brains
have higher levels of neuroplasticity than adults, which makes it much
easier for children to learn new skills and habits that can replace harmful
ones. Therefore, early management of cerebral palsy is ideal.

While CP will not worsen over time, secondary effects like spasticity
(high muscle tone) can. Through early management, you may be able to
reduce or prevent complications from progressing.
TIP 11

It's never too late to change.

While early intervention is ideal, it’s important to understand that
neuroplasticity never completely goes away and that even in adulthood,
you can still improve!

As long as you’re willing to put in the effort and consistently stimulate

the brain through highly repetitive and task-specific exercise, the brain
can react and adapt.

Thousands of repetitions are necessary to promote adaptive changes in

the brain, so be patient, keep practicing, and trust in the process.
TIP 12

Join a Cerebral Palsy

support group.
It’s essential to understand that you’re not alone. Cerebral palsy is the
most common childhood motor disability in the world, meaning that
there are thousands of people who understand what you’re going
through.

Joining a cerebral palsy support group allows you to connect with other
people that have CP, share experiences, and ask questions in a safe,
judgement-free zone. Not every day will be easy, so having a support
group to confide in can be a great source of comfort.

If you can’t find or do not have transportation to a cerebral palsy support

group near you, consider joining an online support group on Facebook.
TIP 13

Attend therapy regularly.

Regular physical therapy is essential for managing cerebral palsy. Because
everyone experiences cerebral palsy differently, a personalized approach
to therapy is needed. What works for one person won’t necessarily work
for another. A physical therapist will assess your functional abilities and
create a customized treatment plan with exercises to help you improve.

If attending physical therapy regularly is not a realistic option for you,

the next best thing is to make sure that you’re consistently practicing
exercises at home. Remember, repetition is key to improving. However,
this is very much easier said than done. Practicing the same movement
over and over again can get boring and many lose motivation.

This is where the FitMi can help! FitMi is a home physical therapy device
that encourages individuals to practice the repetitions they need to
improve. By tapping, squeezing, and moving the sensorized pucks along
to the tasks displayed on the screen, people with cerebral palsy become
more engaged and motivated to practice their exercises. As you improve,
you’ll unlock new difficulty levels so that you continue to be challenged.

The FitMi includes 40 hand, arm, core, and leg exercises designed
by physical and occupational therapists, which allows individuals to
practice a variety of movements. FitMi can also be used in addition to
physical therapy. Physical therapists can assign exercises on the FitMi
for individuals to work on in-between sessions. This helps maximize the
number of repetitions, which can ultimately speed up the rate at which
improvements occur.
CONCLUSION

13 tips for managing

Cerebral Palsy.
1. Understand that recovery starts with the brain
2. Cerebral palsy does not affect intelligence
3. Use it to improve it
4. Develop a routine
5. Prioritize nutrition
6. Do not take an ‘all-or-nothing’ approach
7. Focus on form
8. Modify the home to promote independence
9. Understand discrimination laws
10. Early intervention is ideal
11. It’s never too late
12. Join a cerebral palsy support group
13. Attend physical therapy regularly

We hope this e-book helped you better understand what cerebral palsy
is and how to manage it.
Improve mobility even faster
with FitMi home therapy.
FitMi Home Therapy Program harnesses the power of neuroplasticity
and repetition to improve your mobility. The more you practice, the more
your brain has the stimulation it needs to create new neural pathways.

Start your home therapy with FitMi.

Learn more today at [Link]/product/fitmi

“The results we've achieved through

the use of the FitMi system have
exceeded our expectations. Since
using these systems, the improvement
in her movement and control of her
left side have been amazing. We
are now very optimistic that she will
recover to the point of being able to
function, not 100% as she did before,
but darn close to it."

—
Mike, October 15, 2020