Handling the Child with Cerebral Palsy

Original Editor - Ines Musabyemariya Top Contributors - Ines Musabyemariya, Naomi O'Reilly, Kim Jackson and Vidya Acharya

Introduction

Children with cerebral palsy have abnormal muscle tone and movement, resulting in the abnormal posture that makes it difficult for them to handle. When working with children with cerebral palsy, parents, caregivers, or therapists must be knowledgeable about handling skills. Children with cerebral palsy show atypical movements that restrict the child's ability to develop, and if the child remains in an atypical position for a long time, deformities may occur, which can lead to a permanent disability. Handling skills are important in all interventions for cerebral palsy. Good handling facilitates more purposeful active movements for a child with cerebral palsy.

What is Handling?

Handling is the ability of a person to position, carry/hold, and move a child with cerebral palsy or other neurodevelopmental disability in such a way that his/her body achieves postural control.

It is necessary for both parents and caregivers, to have knowledge of handling children with cerebral palsy, as they stay with them almost many hours per day. Proper handling will help a child to do more purposeful activities and help the brain learn typical posture. Handling can be done using hands, or other equipment.