Occupational Therapy cerebral palsy

Occupational therapy helps people develop or recover the skills needed to lead independent, satisfying lives. The “occupation” in occupational therapy does not refer to one’s profession. Rather, it refers to the everyday activities that give life meaning. For a child, those activities are playing and learning. Pediatric occupational therapy focuses on improving the child’s ability to play and learn, which are important for development and becoming independent.
For children with cerebral palsy, occupational therapy can help with muscle and joint coordination issues—issues that can make everyday tasks difficult. Some of these tasks include eating, brushing teeth and bathing. Occupational therapy can help to improve physical, cognitive and social abilities, as well as fine motor skills and posture. This therapy can also help address difficulties with feeding, swallowing and processing sensory information.

Benefits of Occupational Therapy cerebral palsy
Occupational therapy is beneficial for children with cerebral palsy in many ways. By optimizing upper body function and improving the coordination of small muscles like those in the hands, fingers, feet, toes and mouth, occupational therapy can help children with cerebral palsy master the basic activities of daily living.
Occupational therapy can help children by:
Increasing their chance for independence
Improving their ability to play and learn
Boosting their self-esteem and confidence
Helping them develop a workable routine
Giving them a sense of accomplishment
Improving their quality of life
Parents and caregivers spend a lot of time helping children with cerebral palsy perform basic day-to-day activities. As the child begins to see the benefits of occupational therapy, the parents and caregivers do, too.
For parents and caregivers, occupational therapy helps by:
Reducing the demand on them
Reducing stress
Providing a sense of security
Improving their quality of life
Allowing them to watch their child improve and become independent
Occupational therapy can help with the following issues related to each type of CP:
Spastic – Muscle stiffness in the upper and/or lower limbs and jerky movements characterize spastic cerebral palsy. Among other things, this can lead to difficulty getting dressed, bathing, using the bathroom, eating, drinking, writing and holding objects.
Athetoid – Children with athetoid cerebral palsy are unable to regulate muscle tone, which makes it difficult to control their movements. Trouble with grasping objects, posture, drooling, swallowing, and speaking are common among children with athetoid CP.

Ataxic – Problems with balance and coordination are common among children withataxic cerebral palsy. These children often struggle with precise movements and have tremors or shakiness. This makes it difficult to perform tasks like writing or eating that require precise finger movements, or repetitive movements like clapping.