Early Treatment Can Change Lives

Early, aggressive treatment of cerebral palsy is the best way to prevent loss of functional ability for those suffering from it. After having researched different methods of treating cerebral palsy, I strongly recommend prepubescent resistance training to improve your child's quality of life.
Until recently, prior theories had doctors and therapists believing that strength training in spastic muscles would further increase spasticity, and would have no positive consequences. After researching several online databases on www.pubmed.com, I did not come across any studies to support the theory that spasticity increases because of strength training. However, I did find research published in the June 2001 edition of the Physical Therapy Journal that contains a study that refutes such assertions. EG Fowler, an assistant professor in the UCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, and her colleagues Ho, Nwigwe, Dory, and Dr. Fowler studied twenty-four subjects with spastic diplegia involving the quadriceps femoris muscles, and twelve subjects without any neurological impairment. The study included measuring the subjects range of motion prior to and immediately after resistance training. Their study concluded that resistance training had no negative effect on the spasticity of people with cerebral palsy.
Because I have not found any evidence suggesting that there are negative consequences due to resistance training does not mean that none exist. This blog has been built for the purpose of open, honest discussion between people who truly want to find the best methods of care for children suffering from cerebral palsy. I challenge you, the educated public, to find research either supporting or contradicting my theory. I hope to read your responses soon!