What Can You Tell Me About Braces for Cerebral Palsy?

Braces are an integral part of cerebral palsy therapy. They aid children with CP by stretching muscles that are typically over-contracted and can prove to be truly invaluable in supporting a child's mobility. Braces are available for ankles, legs, backs, elbows, feet, hands--just about any part of the body that relies on muscle contractions for movement.

Braces are typically made of metal, leather, plastic or a combination of these. Different braces require different forms of care. It is also important to check your child's skin for rashes, redness, blisters and open skin wounds--all of these can indicate a malfunctioning brace. If your child's braces don't fit correctly or if they outgrow the braces, the device may prove to be useless to your child. If you see any signs of skin irritation, you should bring your child to their physician and have them look into it.

One of the most common forms of braces for a child with cerebral palsy are Ankle-foot orthoses. These are used for stretching out the Achilles tendon. AFOs can help children with hemiplegia who end up walking on the tips of their toes. Kids who wear AFOs typically wear them throughout the day. These typically take a small adjustment period which is several months after they receive their braces--during this time period the cerebral palsy braces might be quite uncomfortable. During this time period you should encourage your child to utilize the brace as often as they can, so they get used to them.

Back braces are another common brace for children with cerebral palsy. These help straighten up the children who have issues with sitting up and it will help straighten the spine, which might have developed a deformity.