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Cerebral Palsy: Alternative Therapies
A number of people with cerebral palsy, both
children and adults, have found systematic relief and enhanced quality of life
from a combination of alternative and traditional treatments, including
nutritional therapy, craniosacral therapy, bodywork, herbal therapy, homeopathy,
and acupuncture.
We encourage families and patients to work hand in hand with your primary
physician to construct a treatment plan that it best for your child. The
following is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as
medical advice.
Nutritional therapy
The following dietary adjustments have been recommended to alleviate some
symptoms in patients with cerebral palsy:
Those with cerebral palsy should avoid potential allergenic foods. Allergic
foods are believed to worsen symptoms in many CP patients
.
Cerebral palsy patients should also avoid preservatives and food additives
such as MSG (which are potentially toxic to the brain) by eating fresh and
unprocessed foods such as whole grains, vegetables, beans, fruits, nuts, and
seeds.
To improve muscle tone, CP patients should supplement their diets with
magnesium, thiamine, pyridoxine, vitamin C, and bioflavonoids. Alternatively,
they can take daily multivitamin/mineral supplements that can provide all these
helpful nutrients and make sure they are getting adequate protein in diet or
supplements.
Bodywork
Bodywork such as massage, reflexology, Feldenkrais, or rolfing can help improve
blood circulation and muscle tone and reduce muscle spasms in patients with
cerebral palsy.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an alternative treatment that is over 5,000 years old. This
treatment involves inserting very fine needles into the skin at specific points
in order to influence physiological functioning of the body. Acupuncture is
based on the idea that the body has an energy force running through it and that
a person's health is impacted when this force is unbalanced, insufficient, or
interrupted. The practice of acupuncture is believed to help open the pathways
through which the body's energy flows, and therefore, restore or improve health
and movement.
Magnetic Molecular Energizing
This technique, often abbreviated as MME, is rapidly growing in popularity as a
treatment for cerebral palsy and other conditions. In part It was pioneered at
the Advanced Magnetic Research Institute by Larry A. Pearce MD, and Dr. Dean
Bonlie. Their goal is to seek FDA approval in the treatment of ailments such as
brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy,
Parkinson disease, congestive heart failure, spinal cord injury and bone and
joint repair.
MME research is being conducted under the auspices of an Institutional Review
Board (IRB) as outlined in FDA regulations. This IRB consists of five or more
physicians or health professionals who determine specific protocols and review
the records of all cases treated.
Since clinical trials have not yet been done, the support is entirely based upon
anecdotal evidence.
Adeli Suit
Originally designed by the Russian space program for cosmonauts to maintain
muscle tone in a weightless environment, the Adeli Suit has been modified to
help people with cerebral palsy.
The Adeli suit is available at the Euromed Clinic in Poland. Anecdotal reports
are available of children gaining in speech and fine motor control, as well as
movement. No controlled clinical trials have been done to date.
Physical Therapy / Occupational Therapy
Cerebral palsy may restrict a child's ability to reach for and grasp objects, to
move about, to explore the properties of toys, and to communicate with others,
which are all central activities in the child's growth and development.
Therefore, the disease inhibits acquisition of motor skills, knowledge of the
world, and social competence. The family can do much to overcome these
restrictions by adapting the child's environment to meet his or her needs and
providing challenges within the child's abilities to accomplish. The advice and
direction of an occupational therapist can be beneficial to promoting normal
development of the child with CP.
Aquatic Therapy
Aquatic therapy is physical or occupational therapy performed in a heated
(between 92 and 96 degrees) pool. The warm temperature helps to decrease
spasticity, while the buoyancy of the water enables the patient an increased
range of motion. This therapy is often used to assist in improving range of
motion, cardiovascular endurance, balance, strength, tactile stimulation
tolerance, relaxation, ambulation, and pain management.
Other Therapies
Other potentially helpful treatments include acupuncture, homeopathy and herbal
therapy, and dance and music therapy. Although still not proven in clinical
trials, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been used to alleviate many
symptoms of CP. It provides pure oxygen at higher-tha-normal pressure in an
enclosed chamber and is more commonly known for treating divers with compression
sickness. A Cornell University study in 1999–2000 studied the effects of 40
one-hour sessions on 23 children with moderate to severe CP. They noted
improvements in motor skills, attention, language, and play.
Additional Information
Your Legal Concerns
While most doctors, nurses, midwives, and
hospital technicians provide a high standard of care for their patients,
unfortunately, many families are harmed by medical mistakes. A physician may
have misread fetal monitoring equipment, failed to diagnose fetal distress
during labor, waited too long to perform a C Section, administered too much
Pitocin, or failed to act in a timely manner. Parents of a child suffering with
cerebral palsy should
contact an
experienced cerebral palsy lawyer to research the cause of their child’s
condition.
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