Cerebral Palsy: Play Therapy

Cerebral palsy is a congenital neurological disorder that affects movement of the limbs. It is a form of childhood disability and the severities of the disability are different for different children. It is not a contagious disease, nor does it necessarily affect the child’s intelligence or cognitive abilities. People with cerebral palsy tend to lead a normal lifespan. At times with proper care people have shown improved symptoms over time.

Cerebrum is the upper part of our brain that controls the movements of the body. Any kind of damage to this part of the brain, during pregnancy, or child birth or any other reason with 5 years of age can lead to cerebral palsy.

Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is a damage that occurs while the baby is in the womb due to lack of oxygen, caused by a variety of factors like low blood pressure, use of illegal drugs, infection due to rubella etc. Abnormal brain development also can be a reason for cerebral palsy as the cerebrum may not be able to coordinate the messages to other parts of the body due to abnormal development. Intracranial Hemorrhage that happens at times while the baby is in the womb can cause the baby to have a stroke which also can lead to cerebral palsy.

However, there are different methods and therapies that are now available to make life of cerebral palsy people more comfortable. Play therapy is one of them. As we know cerebral palsy restricts physical movements. Even playing which every child instinctively wants to do is a hard task. Good news is this is where the play therapist comes in and they help the children with their innovative process that provides the child not just to play but also build connections. Usually children with cerebral palsy feel isolated as they are unable to express themselves. Play therapy helps these children to express themselves. It not just helps the child to participate and create new relations but it also helps him/her to better coordinate their bodily movements by providing them physical strategies that they can perform.

The Spastic Society of Tiruchirapalli organized a special cricket tournament for children with cerebral palsy as a part of the World Cerebral Palsy awareness day which is observed every year on the 6^th of October.  Participating Children were able to experience firsthand what it is to play an outdoor sport.

By: Madhuchanda Saxena

Content: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/trichy/children-with-cerebral-palsy-get-play-therapy-through-cricket/articleshow/66092550.cms