Question

How to conduct crawling training for children with cerebral palsy?

Answer

Generally, children with cerebral palsy should maintain good sleep, eat a light diet, and engage in appropriate exercise. If patients with movement disorders remain inactive for a long time, their joints may collapse, so functional training is necessary. For patients who cannot move actively on their own, family members need to help them move, just as machines that are not operated for a long time will rust. The most important aspects are joint movement, support, walking, and climbing stairs. The guidance is that crawling training for children with cerebral palsy can be carried out through the following steps:

  1. Prepare the Environment: Begin by training in a spacious, smooth, and safe area, ensuring there are no sharp objects or obstacles.
  2. Position Practice: Initially, have the child practice maintaining the correct crawling position. This involves lying flat on the ground with the body straight, supporting the upper body while bending the legs, and then using hands and knees to support the body.
  3. Guided Movement: Use toys or food as incentives placed in front of the child to encourage them to crawl towards the target. Gradually increase the distance and difficulty to encourage as much crawling as possible.
  4. Consistent Practice: Engage in some training time daily, gradually increasing the training duration.