Yoga Therapy for Cerebral Palsy

Yoga Therapy for Cerebral Palsy

The findings of a recent meta-analysis indicate that yoga offers similar functional benefits to exercise based physiotherapy modalities as a treatment intervention for individuals with MS, stroke and cerebral palsy, while also addressing broader secondary outcomes in a holistic fashion..

Benefits

The study observed improved outcomes in:

-        Spasticity

-        Fatigue

-        Strength,

-        Pain

-        BMI

-        Respiratory function

-        Reaction time

-        Cognition

-        Self-perception

-        Emotional health

-        Balance

-        Gait speed and endurance

-        Depression

-        Anxiety

-        Quality-of-life

The evidence demonstrates that yoga as an intervention that can help address aspects of the whole person, fulfilling the role of a biopsychosocial intervention.

Given the high level of evidence, yoga as an intervention shows great promise for children and adults with CP to effect change across domains of function and wellbeing.

Other unique benefits

Yoga is another option for individuals with CP for exercise, movement and rehabilitation.

For instance, modifications can be made to any yoga position to accommodate individual differences in flexibility, strength, and/or balance.

Additionally, Self-efficacy and confidence for physical activity capabilities develop through individualized movement sequences.

Complementing this are the effects of breathing and meditation to promote relaxation, mindfulness, and ease with physical activity.

Individuals with CP can benefit tremendously from experiencing success in a physical activity, which reinforces participation in movement.

A skilled instructor can develop individualized therapeutic yoga programs that progressively address deficits in flexibility, strength, and balance by changing pose position, props, and time held. Props can support, add comfort, and aid balance. For children and adults with intellectual abilities, the instructor can mirror the practice and add elements of playfulness.

The highest functional improvements across populations were obtained with yoga that occurred more than 60 min for three times per week. If this frequency is difficult to attain in the clinic, some studies had participants perform yoga once a week in the clinic and four times per week at home, and the outcomes were robust for anxiety and quality of life.

REFERENCE:
Veneri, D., Gannotti, M., Bertucco, M., & Fournier Hillman, S. E. (2018). Using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health Model to Gain Perspective of the Benefits of Yoga in Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, and Children to Inform Practice for Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Meta-Analysis. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 24(5), 439–457. doi:10.1089/acm.2017.0030

Yoga for stroke rehabilitation

Yoga for stroke rehabilitation

Stroke is a major health issue and cause of long‐term disability and has a major emotional and socioeconomic impact.

Rehabilitation focuses on recovery of function and cognition to the maximum level achievable, and may include a wide range of complementary strategies including yoga.

Yoga is a mind‐body practice that originated in India, and which has become increasingly widespread in the Western world. Recent evidence highlights the positive effects of yoga for people with a range of physical and psychological health conditions.

A recent non‐Cochrane systematic review concluded that yoga can be used as self‐administered practice in stroke rehabilitation.

Studies reported a significant benefit in improving aspects of range of movement, and a significant benefit in reducing anxiety.

Additionally, after discharge from hospital or other stroke services, stroke survivors have to cope with the long‐term effects of stroke. Research has shown that yoga can help people with long‐term conditions to cope better. Yoga can also improve quality of life.

How the intervention might work

Traditionally, yoga practitioners are reputed to benefit physically and psychologically from yoga practice (Bower 2014).

Yoga is considered a physical activity (Sattelmair 2010) and as such has positive effects on brain chemistry and may lead to strengthened physical states (Garret 2011).

In addition, the relaxation and personal integration aspects of yoga contribute to mindful awareness and personal acceptance (Garret 2011), enhancing ability to sustain attention (Oken 2006).

Conclusion

The review suggested that yoga has evidence to support its use as part of patient‐centered stroke rehabilitation.

Yoga Therapy and Spinal Cord Injury

Therapeutic yoga is the application of movement, breathing exercises, cognitive strategies, education and the establishment of a genuine compassionate relationship.

In the above video is Clint, who is a T8 paraplegic, practicing yoga as tailored to his individual needs.

Private yoga instruction is certainly more rare these days. Most people assume yoga is synonymous with "group exercise classes", when traditionally it was taught on a one-to-one basis for most of its history.

In Krishnamacharya's biography, Desikachar outlines his approach to theraputic yoga:
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"What Krishnamacharya understood so well is that to treat an individual as a unique, whole entity... All possible knowledge of that individuals physical, mental, family, social, cultural, and religious circumstances must be brought to bear.

Krishnamacharya emphasized that such healing relationships must be on a one-to-one basis. Once he began working with a student, he wouid see him or her usually once a week to monitor progress and to change the program as needed.
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The one-to-one relationship between teacher and student is essential not only for the suffering individual but, eventually, for any serious student of Yoga. This is because progress beyond a certain point requires the total concentration of teacher and student in the learning situation. There can be no distractions."
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Further on Desikachar states:
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"Yoga must be changed and adapted to individual needs and to different settings and societies. At the same time, there are aspects of this tradition which must be preserved because they offer insights into the nature of healing, enduring wisdom that can help us in ever-changing circumstances. It was one of the challenges that preoccupied my father-what to preserve, what to adapt."
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Interestingly, this is absolutely not how B.K.S Iyengar was taught by Krishnamacharya. In fact, almost the converse was true. There are many complex reasons for this, but perhaps that is for another post.