Balance Problems After Serial Casting in CP Children

A common symptom of cerebral palsy (CP), a neurological disorder that effects body movement and muscle coordination, is muscle tightness. There is no cure for CP, but there are many treatment methods. Serial casting is one such CP treatment method.

Serial Casting

• In serial casting, a medical professional will cast a patient's joint that does not have good range of motion. The cast is usually changed on a weekly basis. The goal of serial casting is to increase the joint's flexibility.

Side Effects

• As a result of serial casting, balance problems can occur. The balance problems are caused by the child's inability to control her new range of motion.

Post Casting Adjusting

• Orthotics, such as braces and splints, may be recommended to combat possible balance problems. The orthotics help to give the child with CP more stability.

Goal Setting

• A therapist should work with you and your child in setting a goal for how much more flexibility you will want to achieve. Therapists should be able to deduce how much change the child will be able to handle without having balance problems.

Considerations

• Serial casting is most commonly done for children with CP. Adolescents with CP are more at risk for balance problems because an adolescent has more weight to balance once the casting is done.