What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect movement, balance, and posture. It is caused by damage to or abnormal development of the brain, usually before birth or during early childhood. CP is the most common cause of childhood physical disability with 1 in 400 babies born in the UK having a type of cerebral palsy.
Symptoms
Children with cerebral palsy often experience movement problems, including stiff or floppy muscles, poor coordination, difficulty walking, and involuntary movements.
- Balance and posture issues
- Speech, vision or hearing impairments
- Eating and swallowing problems
- Delays in reaching developmental milestones
- Learning difficulties (in some cases)
- Seizures (in some cases)
It’s important to note that symptoms can vary widely from person to person, and not all children with CP will experience all of these symptoms. The signs usually appear in early childhood and can range from mild to severe.
Benefits of Orthotic Treatment
Personalised Care
We assess each child's unique needs to create orthotics that best support their individual goals.
Regular Adjustments
As children grow, we provide ongoing assessments and adjustments to ensure optimal support.
Improved Mobility
Our devices can help children walk more easily and confidently.
Multidisciplinary Approach
Our team collaborates with healthcare providers to deliver comprehensive care.
With our advanced orthotic solutions, we aim to empower children with CP to move more freely, engage in activities with confidence, and enjoy a better quality of life. Let us help your child reach their full potential with the right support!
Orthotic Treatment
At The Orthotics Clinic, we specialise in providing tailored orthotic devices for children with cerebral palsy (CP). Our custom-made orthotics are designed to enhance mobility, improve comfort, and support overall quality of life.
The choice of orthotic device depends on the individual's specific needs, type of CP, and functional goals. Regular assessment and adjustment of orthotic devices are essential to ensure optimal outcomes and accommodate growth and changing needs.
Typical orthotics used for patients with CP are:
Ankle Foot Orthosis
AFOs are the most common orthotic devices used for CP. They help maintain foot position, improve gait, and provide stability.
Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) offer numerous benefits for children with cerebral palsy. These custom-made devices improve gait, mobility, and joint alignment while managing spasticity and preventing contractures. AFOs enhance overall function and independence, facilitating daily activities and motor skill development. As a non-invasive, adaptable intervention, they provide a low-risk option for managing gait issues. AFOs can be tailored to each child's specific needs, potentially improving quality of life and boosting self-esteem. By addressing individual requirements, orthotists can deliver effective treatments that significantly enhance mobility and function for children with cerebral palsy.
Dynamic Strut Ankle Foot Orthosis
Dynamic strut AFOs offer a flexible solution for children with mobility challenges. These innovative orthoses provide ankle stability while allowing controlled movement, promoting a more natural gait pattern. The flexible strut design stores and releases energy during walking, potentially reducing fatigue and improving efficiency. Dynamic AFOs help prevent foot drop, enhance comfort, and can be customised to suit individual needs. They support various daily activities, from walking to sports, fostering independence and skill development. By balancing support with flexibility, dynamic strut AFOs can help children achieve better mobility, reduce compensatory movements, and adapt to changing needs as they grow. At The Orthotics Clinic, we assess each child's unique requirements to determine if dynamic strut AFOs are the right choice for their mobility goals.
Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthoses (KAFOs)
KAFOs stabilize the knee, ankle, and foot. They're particularly useful for children with limited leg movement who are learning to walk
Spinal Orthoses
Spinal braces, such as thoraco-lumbo-sacral orthoses (TLSOs), can improve sitting balance and posture in children with spinal deformities.
Lycra Garments
Lycra garments can be beneficial for some patients with cerebral palsy. These specialised garments provide compression and proprioceptive input, potentially improving postural control, stability, and motor function. They may help reduce muscle tone and involuntary movements, while enhancing gait and body awareness. Some studies suggest improvements in both gross and fine motor skills with regular use.
Frequently Asked Questions.
The brain injury disrupts normal muscle control, leading to involuntary contractions.
- Muscles may remain in a constant state of contraction, resulting in stiffness.
- This tightness can affect various muscle groups, depending on the type and severity of CP.
- Over time, persistent muscle tightness can lead to joint stiffness and potential deformities if not properly managed.
It’s important to note that muscle tightness in CP is not a problem with the muscles themselves, but rather with how the brain controls them. Early intervention and ongoing management, including physical therapy and orthotics, can help address muscle tightness and improve mobility for children with CP.
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a non-progressive condition, meaning the initial brain injury does not worsen over time. However, as children grow, they may experience changes in muscle tone and strength, which can affect movement and posture.
While the brain damage remains stable, secondary issues like joint problems or muscle contractures may develop. Early intervention through physical therapy, occupational therapy, and appropriate orthotic devices is crucial to manage these changes effectively.
Each child with CP is unique, and their experiences can vary. At The Orthotics Clinic, we monitor your child’s progress and adjust treatment plans as needed to support their development and maintain their quality of life.
When selecting shoes to wear with AFOs, it’s important to choose options that provide comfort, support, and enough space for the orthotic.
Tips for Choosing Shoes:
- Look for shoes with removable insoles to create more space.
- Choose wide or extra-wide styles to ensure a comfortable fit.
- Opt for shoes with laces or zippers for easier adjustments.
- Avoid shoes with heels; instead, select flat or low-heeled options.
- Consider high-top styles for added ankle support.
Finding the right footwear is essential for comfort and mobility when using AFOs.
Orthotics can significantly improve the quality of life for children with Cerebral Palsy in several ways. By providing stability and support, orthotics help improve mobility and independence, allowing children to participate more fully in daily activities, social interactions, and educational opportunities. They can reduce pain and discomfort associated with muscle spasticity and joint misalignment, leading to better sleep and overall well-being. Orthotics also help prevent deformities and contractures, which can have long-term positive effects on a child’s physical development. By enhancing posture and gait, orthotics can boost a child’s confidence and self-esteem, encouraging more active participation in social and physical activities. Additionally, by improving energy efficiency during movement, orthotics can reduce fatigue, allowing children to engage in activities for longer periods. Overall, the use of orthotics can lead to increased functional abilities, greater independence, and a more active lifestyle, all of which contribute to an enhanced quality of life for children with Cerebral Palsy.
It’s important to note that the effectiveness of orthotics varies depending on the individual child’s condition, the type of orthotic device used, and how well it is prescribed and fitted. Regular follow-ups and adjustments are often necessary to ensure optimal benefits and quality of life improvements. Additionally, orthotics are typically part of a comprehensive treatment plan that may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other interventions to maximize their positive impact on a child’s quality of life
Orthotics play an important role in managing spasticity in children with cerebral palsy by:
- Holding affected body parts in place to prevent unwanted movements caused by spastic muscles. This helps minimize further tightening of spastic muscles.
- Providing a gentle, prolonged stretch to tight muscles, even when the child is not actively moving. This passive stretching can help reduce spasticity over time.
- Improving joint alignment and stability, particularly for the ankles and feet. This creates a more stable base for movement and can reduce the impact of spasticity on gait and posture.
- Facilitating better biomechanical alignment, which can decrease muscle strain and energy expenditure during movement.
- Supporting weak muscles and improving selective motor control, allowing for more functional movements.
- Preventing or slowing the development of contractures and deformities that can result from prolonged spasticity.
- Enhancing overall rehabilitation efforts by providing a stable foundation for physical therapy and other treatments.
Custom orthotics, especially ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs), can be tailored to each child’s specific needs and spasticity patterns. When used consistently and adjusted regularly as the child grows, orthotics can significantly improve mobility, comfort, and quality of life for children with cerebral palsy.