Harmful Myths About Spasticity That Parents Should Be Aware Of
Cerebral palsy is one of the causes that lead to spasticity. Spasticity is a medical condition whereby a person is unable to control muscular movements that result in involuntary clenching and tightening of muscles in joints of the affected area. This means, that it becomes hard for patients to perform normal daily activities like washing and dressing without help.
It is important to seek treatment for spasticity early enough by getting spasticity therapy in Toronto from centers with the right facilities to help patients become more flexible and mobile. If left unattended, spasticity can result in the inability to move and walk and can even cause frozen joints.
When a child is diagnosed with spasticity, it is mostly the parents or guardians who get affected the most by the news. It is every parent’s wish that their children be born whole and healthy so that they can lead normal lives, so learning that their child may have to live with a disability can be such a blow.
There have been harmful myths about spasticity that have been around for long, and this article will help parents tell the truth from myths about spasticity to enable them to support their children and allow them a chance to have a quality life.
Spasticity is a very serious condition
There have been cases of parents who are unable to come forth with their children spasticity condition with the fear of being stigmatized by the society. They believe that this condition is very serious and therefore there is nothing that can be done to improve their child’s condition. This move has led to parents withholding treatment from their children leading the condition to worsen. The truth is that this condition does not have a permanent cure but a parent can take their child to therapy early enough. At these centers, doctors lead children into therapeutic activities that help in strengthening muscles therefore allowing a child to be more flexible.
There’s nothing you can do for a child with spasticity
As you have read above, if spasticity is not attended to early enough it can lead to more muscular damage leading to loss of movement in a child. The myth points out that once a child is diagnosed with spasticity there is nothing much that can be done to improve the situation. There are more severe cases than others and parents are advised to visit qualified physicians to get more information about their child’s condition and what needs to be done.
Children with spasticity cannot perform daily activities
This a misconception that leads to parents believing that their child cannot perform any of the daily activities normal children enjoy. This then leads parents to do everything for the child therefore limiting his or her movements. Parents need to be aware that you can encourage your child, as early as 3 years, to participate in daily activities despite their limitations. You can encourage movement by allowing a child to use their hands and legs more. You can place a child in different sleeping and sitting positions that allow them to move their limb muscles and in turn they get to strengthen their muscles.
As a parent, your children rely on you to guide them in everything and so it is paramount that you offer full support towards helping your child to get better. It helps to accept the fact that a child has spasticity and this makes it easy for the parent to think ahead of how they can help their child to live a healthy quality life. Taking your child to therapy helps them to improve their muscular movement range and limits the discomfort associated with spasticity.