Rehabilitation
Doctor finds athletic activities help treat cerebral palsy symptoms
Last Updated:
A half-million Americans are born with cerebral palsy. It’s caused by a brain injury at birth and while it varies in severity, the main symptom is poor movement control.
Now, a unique doctor offers unique therapy that replaces monotony with fun.
Children with cerebral palsy have difficulty moving, but it is vital. With the new therapy, it can be fun. Parents have their own reason for going.
"They get their mind off of, 'I have to learn how to move my arm this way or reach out and touch that,' and instead, they start thinking to the music," said Dr. Jan Brunstrom.
Dr. Brunstrom speaks from experience, she’s head of Saint Louis Children’s Cerebral Palsy Center and has cerebral palsy herself. She started the unique program after her own experience with martial arts. "What I wasn't expecting was to find a dramatic improvement in my self-confidence and my motor abilities," she said.
She introduced her patients to martial arts, then swimming, basketball and dance. "Many of them are actually able to reduce the physical therapy that they're in or even discontinue it for periods of time," Brunstrom said.
Karate has helped Amanda Powers’ balance. "She's always been able to walk unassisted, but she would fall quite a bit. It's rare now that she ever falls," Amanda’s mother, Kathy Powers said.
The benefits go even further. "I have seen what gratification you can receive from just this martial arts so if it works in martial arts, it could work at school," Amanda Powers said.
Dr. Brunstrom’s exercise program is currently the only one of its kind.
Students in the martial arts program travel around the world giving demonstrations for doctors interested in starting their own program.
Reprinted with permission. Copyright ©2005TWEAN News Channel of Austin, L.P. d.b.a. News 8 Austin