Physios back activity-promoting World Cerebral Palsy Day

World Cerebral Palsy Day, which takes place every year, aims to ensure that children and adults with Cerebral Palsy (CP) have the same rights, access and opportunities as everyone else in society.

This year the event focused on promoting the benefits of sport and physical activity on the quality of life for people with cerebral palsy and related conditions.

Neuro -physiotherapist Miriam Creeger, co-founder and trustee of the Adult Cerebral Palsy Hub, said: ‘Activity is so important to all adults. We lose one per cent of muscle bulk each year after we turn 40 and for people with CP it won't take much muscle bulk loss to find getting up from a chair or getting out of the car, more difficult.

‘This might have a huge impact on their life, like taking the kids to school or getting to work. So keeping active and strong is really important.’

‘And physiotherapy has so many ways to assist this poorly supported community whether as a neuro, orthopaedic or MSK physio or within the research world.’

Helping people with CP to love activity

In London, the Mayor of Enfield Kate Anolue, who is also a retired midwife, supported the day by attending events that included family friendly activities and 30 minutes of group activity.

‘We also launched our website, which has information to support medical professionals, researchers as well as client users,’ Ms Creeger said.

‘And we handed out “love activity, hate exercise” campaign postcards, which the CSP had kindly provided.’

Physiotherapy for CP

Gemma Cook, a neuro-physiotherapist and researcher also took part in the day’s events, and she is now looking into how physiotherapy can impact on adults with Cerebral Palsy. For more information on her research email: gemma.cook@brunel.ac.uk

In addition, CSP members can learn more about “What good practice looks like for adults with Cerebral Palsy” by attending the Adult Cerebral Palsy Hub conference for researchers, medics and AHPs, which takes place in London on 8 November. For more details email: info@adultcphub.org.

This year World Cerebral Palsy Day received backing from Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association and UK charity Chickenshed Theatre

Media coverage

Last week, the ITV programme ‘Paul O’Grady’s Little Heroes’ featured physiotherapists ay Great Ormond Street treating a patient with Cerebral Palsy with Botox injections. The episode is available to watch here until 3 November.