Ataxic Cerebral Palsy What is it?

 Ataxia is a word for a group of disorders that affect coordination, balance and speech. Any part of the body can be affected, but people with ataxia more often have difficulties with balance and walking. So they look like they are wobbling. As shown in the video

Ataxic cerebral palsy is a type of cerebral palsy that affects a person's balance, coordination, and depth perception. The definition of, Ataxia, means “incoordination” or being “without order.” This type of cerebral palsy is the least diagnosed type.

So there are lots of different styles of walking one of which is shown in the video above. The one I have is

That is not me walking but a video of someone else doing the same type of gaited walk. which is called Tip Toe/Equinus Gait.

However, there are ways to help this.

• Physical Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Speech and Language Therapy

Physical therapy is done in the same way as physiotherapy is done for spastic cerebral palsy but concentrates on what movement there is and changes the way of doing it.

Occupational therapy is done by using aids such as gait walkers and splints to change the way to do it.

When I was small the occupational therapy included plastering my feet into a different way. and the plastering was left on for 12 weeks at a time and was done 3 times. I was made to be walking like Charlie Chaplin.

And this actually worked very well. As I am still walking although I do use night foot splints to ensure that my feet don't turn in as they were as a child. Similar to the picture below.

My feet still turn in at night so I use a set of nighttime splints to ensure that they don't get too bad. But I am extremely lucky in the sense that I am aware of what my condition is and does it to me.

Speech and Language Therapy is used to help with speech and language as it is often difficult to understand. If it cannot be improved enough through the therapy then the person is given equipment such as the ones below.

which was made famous by the great Professor, Professor Stephen Hawking who had Motor Neurone Disease (ALS) and died in 2018.

This does not mean people with cerebral palsy are not the same as anyone else we just have added challenges that we have overcome to do what we want. I mentioned this in my post

Exercises or No Exercises That is the question?

 We are still in lockdown here in the UK and life has started to be a norm now. But is it going to be staying forever? Spring is also a couple of months away so making exercise difficult for anyone who is disabled.

I am not a professional instructor however being a person with cerebral palsy the following is a set of exercises that I use myself to help maintain my level of agility. Despite having the condition.

Please remember to consult your consultant and physiotherapist to ensure that these exercises are good for your own body.

The whole situation of the virus is making things very difficult.

Because of those of us who can walk even a little bit.

Physiotherapy is a must even the littlest bit of stretching and movement is important especially as staying indoors limits the amount of exercise we can do. Simple exercises such as the bridge.

1. Lie flat on your back with your legs bent and your feet flat on the floor and hip-width apart, arms by your sides.
2. Push your heels into the floor as you lift your pelvis off the floor until your upper body and thighs form a straight line.
3. Do this about 20 times slowly, as you can damage your hips and pelvis.

This exercise can be done on the floor or on your bed if it is a firm one.

It is a great exercise if you do it carefully as it strengthens your core muscles as well as ensuring that your pelvis and bladder are strong. Making mishaps less evident. Here is a video of some tummy exercises that can help you stay safe doing them.

Another simple exercise you can do even sitting in a chair. And that is to squeeze your butt muscles. It's called The butt clench and below is a video that shows how you can do the exercise.

And do this as often as you can. For as long as you can.

A good thing to do when you can pull your tummy muscles in for as long as you can.

If you combine the tummy pull in and use the butt clench together you can improve your posture.

Please remember to consult your consultant and physiotherapist to ensure that these exercises are good for your own body.

The following video is by Kym Perfetto KYM NONSTOP. It is a full upper body exercise routine lasting 10 minutes.

which I think is great for the upper body even if you are in a wheelchair.

She has several videos catered for disabled people. Particularly for wheelchair users, amputees and injured people

Having a mild form of cerebral palsy I like to ensure that I am agile for as long as possible. Before I have to sit in a wheelchair permanently. Yet I won’t discount a wheelchair in the future when my body insists. So exercising is a good way of maintaining the memory for muscles to keep their tone for longer.

Please remember to consult your consultant and physiotherapist to ensure that these exercises are good for your own body.

Because I do not want to cause you any injury. But I do want you to be healthy and fit.

If you do find other videos with good exercises for people who have cerebral palsy. Then let me know if they are any good.

Love and Peace.