Best 2 Hours Therapy for CP: (5/y) Child Taught Me Patience

Some days as a Physiotherapist are physically tiring, and some days are emotionally heavy. Today was both as i have to attend a CP child today.

I woke up with a strange kind of tiredness. Not just from the body, but from the continuous routine of the clinic, hostel, and patients. But when you choose this field, you learn one thing very early your patient’s pain is always bigger than your tiredness.

What Is Cerebral Palsy?

Today I had to attend a very special patient Arooba. Arooba is a 5-year-old little girl. Arooba is an epileptic CP child.
For those who don’t know, CP means Cerebral Palsy. Cp is a neurological condition.For example cerebral palsy affects movement, posture, and balance. However when CP comes with epilepsy, the care becomes even more delicate. You have to be extra careful, extra gentle, and extra patient.

My 5 Years Old CP Patient Arooba

When Arooba came into the clinic with Arooba's mother, Arooba was holding her mother’s hand tightly. Arooba was scared, and Arooba was not ready to cooperate. And that is completely normal for a 5-year-old, especially when Arooba sees the same exercises every day.The physiotherapy session for Arooba took me 2 hours. Yes, 2 full hours for one patient.

Exercise Therapy for CP child

I started with Range of Motion exercises (ROMs).And ROMs is the most basic but most important step for a CP child. Because of spasticity, Arooba's muscles get stiff very quickly. If we don’t move every joint daily for example shoulder, elbow, wrist, fingers, hip, knee, and ankle. As the result stiffness will increase and Arooba's movements will become even more restricted. I did all the ROMs very slowly, talking to Arooba, making eye contact, so Arooba doesn’t feel like it’s a treatment. I wanted Arooba to feel like it’s play.

Balance Plate

After ROMs, we moved to the Balance Plate. And this is the most challenging part for her. Arooba's balance is not well developed and she gets scared of falling from balance plate. Arooba's mother was standing beside me, but I had to hold Arooba firmly from her trunk. On the balance plate, we did weight shifting exercises left to right, front to back. Arooba was crying a little at first, but I kept encouraging her. “Very Good, good girl, you can do it.” And then after a few minutes, she actually started enjoying it. That small smile on her face was my reward.

Gym Ball Excercises

Then came the last part Gym Ball Exercises. I love using the gym ball for CP kids. Well,gym ball helps in core strengthening, postural control, and also sensory input. I made Arooba sit on the gym ball, holding her from the hips, and did gentle bouncing and reaching activities. This not only strengthens her trunk muscles but also makes her brain understand where her body is in space.

The Secret Weapon:Toys for Arooba

The real trick to treat a 5-year-old is not in your books. It’s in Arooba's pocket.To distract Arooba, I gave her toys so that I can perform her exercises smoothly.I had small colorful toys, a small doll, and a car with lights. Whenever she would get irritated or start crying.I would show her a toy. Arooba's eyes would immediately go to the toy and I would quickly complete the movement. Sometimes I have to sing, sometimes I have to make funny voices, sometimes I have to become a child myself.

From Clinic to Comfort: Dinner With My Sister

After that session, I had 2 more patients Naima and Humaira but they were adult cases, much easier than the morning session. Around evening, I came back to the hostel. I was completely drained. I just wanted to lie down.In the evening Me and my sister Faiza decided to go for dinner to our favorite place, 23 Restaurant in Faisalabad. 23 Restaurant is our comfort spot. We have so many memories there.

We ordered our all-time favorites — Myo Fries and an Extremely Crispy Chicken Special Pizza.The Myo Fries at 23 are different. Myo fries are not just fries with mayo. Myo fries are loaded, creamy, with a little spicy kick, and the cheese on top just melts. And the Chicken Special Pizza thin crust, extra cheese, juicy chicken chunks, olives and capsicum. The first bite and I literally said, “Uff, this is what I needed today.”

My Thoughts at the End of the Day

Sometimes I think, what is the life of a Physiotherapist? A Physiotherapist gives energy to people who are in pain. A Physiotherapist holds the patient's hands and celebrates the patient's smallest improvements.
And then at the end of the day, I also need healing. For me, healing is my sister, my favorite food from 23 Restaurant, and a place where I can just be Wardah, not Dr. Wardah.

If you want to know more about Cerebral Palsy you can visit this site

Here is the link to my previous post