When Rehabilitation Stops and A New Life Begins

Another pressing question in the minds of many parents with brain injured children is how to help their child improve on their muscle functioning. While physical and occupational therapy can help some, it is also helpful to learn some basic stretching exercises that may help keep your child from developing contractures, a severe tightening of the muscles. In many cases, surgery is required to relieve contractures, but there are some things you can do to prevent them.

Muscle stretching

Make muscle stretching a part of your child’s daily routine. For individuals with hemiplegia, paralysis of one side of the body, this proves to be extremely beneficial. If you follow a few basic steps, you could see a significant improvement in your child’s right or left side, depending on which was affected by the injury. Take your child's hand and shake it until the fingers relax. Once you have done this, place his hand on the floor, while pressing against his fingers until they look as if his hand is flat against the floor. Then, ask your child to shift his weight onto that hand. This will help him build up strength in his weakened side, while at the same time, it stretches muscles.

Another exercise used to keep the legs limber is also fairly easy to do. Sit on a chair, and pull one leg up so that your foot is resting sideways on your thigh. Then, shift your weight to the opposite side. Do it first yourself to demonstrate to your child how to do the exercise. This will stretch the muscles in the upper leg and thigh.

Encourage your child to perform these exercises on a daily basis. Tasks, such as these, are usually performed by licensed therapists, but encouraging your child to do them on his own will help keep his muscles limber between visits.

Try some of these techniques, and you’ll find that you’re on your way to making your child’s life post brain injury a much easier one!

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