Katherine Webre is a passionate writer with years of experience in legal. She has dedicated her career to represent the most vulnerable among us, children who have suffered severe injustice. Beyond legal action, Katherine also takes up the pen to raise awareness and inform audiences about birth injuries. By sharing her expertise, she hopes to empower people to act against any prejudice and works as a collaborative editor for Birth Injury Lawyer.
Martial arts can have a surprisingly beneficial effect for those suffering from the effects of cerebral palsy. The physical and mental discipline that martial arts impose, as well as the intense demands on a person's capabilities, provides those with CP an avenue to build physical and mental strength. Martial arts can ultimately serve as a highly effective way to get those with CP physically and mentally engaged, helping to improve their condition and overall quality of life. Find out how and why martial arts could be just what someone with CP needs to make the most out of life.
How Can Martial Arts Benefit Someone With Cerebral Palsy?
Someone with cerebral palsy can benefit from martial arts in several ways that can improve their overall quality of life and yield lasting benefits. It's useful to break these down to see just how someone’s life can improve with the condition once they start to get more active.
Physical Improvements
Martial arts require dedication and regular practice, which can give someone with CP a fun addition to their physical therapy. Instead of mobility exercises that don't seem to build toward any skills aside from the use of the parts of the body being exercised, martial arts can train someone how to do something new. Participants can enjoy exploring their bodies and pushing past their limits to unlock new powers. Martial arts can generate more enthusiasm for getting physically active overall for participants, which can have numerous long-term health benefits.
Mental Health Benefits
Those with CP are especially at-risk for mental health problems related to their limited mobility. Getting active can help to alleviate this stress and provides a welcome break from the daily routine for those with the condition. Martial arts include a social element missing from simple physical therapy, as well as a competitive edge that can spur participants to even greater accomplishments. Those with CP can be more committed to their existing physical therapy regimen, lest they fall behind others in their class.
What Types of Martial Arts Are Good For People With Cerebral Palsy?
For those with cerebral palsy, certain types of martial arts are favored, including the following:
- Karate
- Brazilian jiu-jitsu
- Taekwondo
While these are popular among those with cerebral palsy, they are by no means the only martial arts options available to those with the condition. It's important for those with CP who want to practice martial arts to learn about the different forms and experiment with each type to find the ones that they like best. It may be surprised how much certain forms connect with the practitioner compared to others.
Can I Afford Martial Arts With Cerebral Palsy?
Those with CP face immense expenses across their life, and many may feel as if a martial arts class is a splurge they simply can't afford. This is why it's vital to seek out a birth injury attorney as soon as possible once a diagnosis for CP has been made. The damages that can be won in a birth injury case can be enough to cover these expenses across the life of someone with CP.
Martial arts can provide an outlet for those from CP to live exciting, fulfilling lives. It can help them to develop both the physical and mental skills they'll need to be resilient throughout life. Furthermore, martial arts can help them overcome many of the challenges they'll face with their condition, as it can greatly improve their strength, stamina, and outlook on life. If your child has CP and you're looking for a new way to keep them engaged and in excellent condition, then martial arts could provide just what you're looking for.
