Adding cerebral palsy exercises to a daily routine is beneficial to anyone with CP. In addition to muscle strengthening and loosening of tight muscles, exercising can provide emotional empowerment. By increasing independence, exercising improves the ability of someone with cerebral palsy to interact within his community, helping to give the person with CP a greater sense of well being. 

The first step in developing a safe exercise environment includes establishing a cerebral palsy exercises program. To ensure safety, you should consult a medical professional, such as a doctor or physical therapist. The medical professional will be able to create an exercise program which will meet the individual needs of your loved one. A cerebral palsy exercise program may work to improve strength, balance, muscle tightness, coordination, and mobility.

The effectiveness of any exercise program increases with frequency. A cerebral palsy exercises program will usually take form in physical therapy with modifications as needed. In addition to regular physical therapy sessions, a therapist will work to develop exercise routines the individual can safely perform by herself.

The positive effect of an exercises program surpasses benefits like muscle strengthening and increased independence to include reduced health risks from chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure and osteoporosis. While overall beneficial, experiencing any of the following while exercising should be considered a warning sign; lightheadedness, chest pains, breathing difficulties, extreme fatigue, and moderate to severe levels of muscle/joint pain. If experiencing any of these symptoms, speak to a medical professional.
 
Some exercises typically beneficial for individuals with CP can be found below:
Swimming- Swimming in cold temperatures can increase muscle tone, while swimming in a warm temperature pool aids in relaxing muscles. Additionally, swimming helps to improve the respiratory system.

Bear Crawl- This hamstring stretching exercise will be a good choice for individuals with mild to moderate cerebral palsy. The exercise requires having hands and feet on the floor and moving forward, backwards, or sideways. 

Catch- Playing catch can be a good activity for improving hand-eye coordination. Using a soft object, such as a plush ball or bean bag, instead of a football or baseball will help ensure safety.

Learn even more about cerebral palsy exercises programs.

Photo courtesy SpiralZ at Wikipedia Commons.