Gentle exercise for kids used to help child cerebral palsy sufferers
Date: 02/02/2010 / Category: Indoor play for disability schools and groups
Gentle exercise for kids is being used to help children with cerebral palsy to build up muscle memory and endurance.
Amy Newmeyer, who directs the Cerebral Palsy Program along with clinical therapies research coordinator Linda Lowes and colleagues at Nationwide Children's Hospital, in Ohio, uses a special treadmill system to help the children.
"Cerebral Palsy causes differences in muscle tone, making muscles either too tight or too loose," explained Dr Newmeyer.
"This makes it very difficult for kids to do basic activities, like crawling and walking," she added.
The treadmill system uses a harness to help support the weight of patients, allowing their legs and feet to move more freely.
Over time the patients begin to rely less on the harness and begin to support more of their own weight themselves.
Exercise for kids is important for all children and the NHS recommends that children take part in at least 60 minutes of fitness activities each day.
Posted by Sarah Thomas
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