Pediatric Therapy for Cerebral Palsy in Monroe, West Monroe, & Ruston, LA
How Pediatric Therapy Supports Children with Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy affects a child’s muscle tone, movement, and coordination, which can make everyday activities like getting dressed, feeding themselves, or playing with others more challenging. Building Futures Pediatric Therapy offers occupational and physical therapy and hippotherapy at clinics in Monroe, West Monroe, and Ruston, LA, to help children with cerebral palsy build strength, coordination, and confidence at their own pace.
Children with cerebral palsy will face unique challenges with their development and independence throughout their lives. Thankfully, pediatric occupational therapy can help your child gain the key developmental skills they need for success in school, relationships, and daily activities. Keep reading to learn more about what cerebral palsy is, how it can affect your child’s development, and how occupational therapy can help them build a brighter future.
What Is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is a disorder of the nervous system that affects muscle tone, movement and coordination. This can cause a child to struggle with everyday activities like taking care of their own hygiene, playing with others, feeding themselves, getting dressed, and much more.
What Causes Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is caused by brain damage during early development, either while in the womb or during or after birth—though 80% of cases of cerebral palsy occur due to damage that happens before birth. The damage affects the parts of the brain that control muscle movements. This can happen due to:
- Premature birth
- Infections of the brain or spinal cord
- Strokes
- Lack of blood flow or oxygen to the brain
- Genetics
- Accidental injuries
Signs and Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy
Children who have cerebral palsy can have one or more of the following symptoms or complications as a result of this condition:
- Lack of muscle coordination
- Difficulty with fine motor skills
- Challenges in walking or maintaining balance
- Impaired speech or difficulty swallowing
- Lack of muscle tone
- Developmental delays
- Unusually small or large head size
- Stiffness in the arms or legs
- Muscle spasms or contractions
- Epilepsy and seizures
- Intellectual or learning disabilities
- Vision and hearing impairments
- Behavioral struggles
How Occupational Therapy Treats Cerebral Palsy
Pediatric occupational therapy uses proven, play-based techniques to help children with cerebral palsy develop the essential skills they need for success in life. Our approach focuses on enhancing your child’s independence, confidence, and ability to handle daily tasks. We use simple exercises, stretches, and activities to help your child improve their movement and coordination so they can achieve their fullest potential.
Hippotherapy for Cerebral Palsy
As part of our holistic approach, we may recommend hippotherapy to address developmental challenges and sensory processing difficulties associated with cerebral palsy. This enjoyable therapy technique involves interacting with horses, which offers children a unique and motivating way to build physical strength, coordination, and confidence. The children in our care love working with horses because it motivates them to build their developmental skills so they can spend time with these incredible animals.
Free Developmental Screening
If you’re concerned about your child’s development, you can take advantage of our free online developmental screening. This tool is a convenient way for parents to know with certainty if your child is achieving their developmental milestones or if they need extra support to achieve their brightest future.
FreQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How can therapy help a child with cerebral palsy?
Therapy can make everyday movement and care easier for your child. Depending on their needs, sessions may work on sitting, reaching, walking or using their hands during play and daily routines.
Does my child need more than one type of therapy?
Many children with cerebral palsy benefit from a team approach. Physical therapy may support movement and mobility, occupational therapy may help with daily skills, and speech therapy may support communication or feeding when needed.
What goals are realistic for therapy?
Realistic goals look different for every child. For one child, progress may mean sitting with better support or taking steps more safely. For another, it may mean using their hands more during play, eating more comfortably or finding a better way to communicate.
Will therapy be painful for my child?
No, therapy should not feel painful. Some activities may be challenging because your child is learning new movement patterns, but the therapist should work at a pace your child can handle and adjust when something feels too difficult.
How can parents support a child with cerebral palsy at home?
Your therapist can show you safe ways to practice positioning, stretching, movement and daily routines. The goal is to make practice part of normal life, not another stressful task added to the day.