Cerebral palsy
Cerebral Palsy is a condition that affects the muscles and posture of the body and can make walking difficult. Leeds Orthotics offer access to a range of orthotic devices that aid and improve mobility and provide a stable base for movement for people who suffer from cerebral palsy.
How can orthotics help?
Orthotics can be worn by someone who suffers from cerebral palsy for a number of benefits. Orthotics can provide support to increase mobility and prevent compensatory movements at the knees and hips. This can reduce the potential for accidents and falling. Orthotics can be used to address muscular imbalances and in some cases prevent or stabilise deformities. It is also possible to correct posture using orthotics. An orthosis can provide a stretch to muscles which have become tight due to the condition.
Common problems associated with cerebral palsy
For people who suffer with cerebral palsy, joint deformities and compensatory movements caused by unbalanced muscle tone are problems that can be treated using orthotics. One common condition is the tendency for children with cerebral palsy to walk on their tip toes, this can be treated over time by using orthotic devices that help stabilise and strengthen the muscles and joints of the foot and ankle. General instability caused by the condition means that ambulation can be challenging. Other difficulties associated with cerebral palsy include:
- Muscle tightness, or spasm, or ‘floppy’ or weak muscles
- Involuntary movement of muscles
- Under development of muscle bulk
- Leg length discrepancies
- General difficulties with walking and mobility
- Abnormal sensations
What might the assessment procedure involve?
First, an appointment would be made for one of our orthotists to meet you at one of our clinics and undertake an initial assessment. This will involve a range of tests on range of motion, muscle strength and gait analysis to allow the orthotist to make the best recommendations for orthotic intervention to ensure the most effective treatment. Any casts that are required to capture the shape of the region that an orthotic device will target Home visits are a possibility in some cases.
What types of orthotics might be effective?
Leeds Orthotics can provide a variety of orthotic devices to help with the difficulties caused by cerebral palsy, depending on the outcome of an orthotist’s assessment. Some of the commonly used orthotic devices include:
- Spinal braces, which are used to maintain the alignment of the spine
- Lycra suits are dynamic orthoses that increase proprioception and allow natural muscle movement, but provide support to weaker or abnormal movement with specifically placed panels that place pressure and direction on specific muscles. These garments can be gloves, socks or suits
- lower limb orthoses include AFOs (ankle foot orthoses) and SMOs (supramalleolar foot orthoses) that aim to control the foot, ankle, knee and hip positions of a child through their walking cycle
- anti-contracture orthoses can be used to stretch out tight muscles
- FES (functional electrical stimulation) can be used to stimulate weaker or affected muscles to function in a more normal pattern
To arrange an appointment call Leeds Orthotics now on 0330 088 3949, or email us at office@leedsorthotics.co.uk