Mild Cerebral Palsy questions?!

Mild Cerebral Palsy questions?

I'm 18 and have a mild case of spastic diplegia, meaning I can't keep my balance without the use of a crutch. I can walk without it, however it's more of a staggering gait; I walk on my tiptoes and not my heels at all.

I am prone to muscle tightness in my legs, is there any way to loosen this, and what is the benefit of it?

Also, I have constant lower back pain due to a slight spine curvature (scoliosis); how can this be remedied?

Thanks- Kegan

I don't know if you have ever heard of this but there is a lovely therapy called Bowen Technique which is non invasive and done through clothes. I have used it many times as it works on the body alignment and correcting what can be corrected.

I really can't describe how it works only that it does and it is the therapy I go back to time after time especially in my line of work as a yoga teacher. (You would think I would be wonderfully supple and stress free but teaching lots of classes can have the opposite effect and I am more prone to injury)

The Muscle tighness in your back can be helped by using a tennis ball on a wall and rolling around slowly and carefully taking note of any particular pain spots. Do this daily.

There are lots of great excercises which can help with your co-ordination and your balance but I would consult a local yoga teacher to have them demonstrated. Anything that means you cross the midline of your body will improve the pathways in the brain to help with balance but I won't go into it all on here as it is very long winded.

Good luck with it all and here's to relaxed muscles for the future. The spine curvature is probably something you have to live with but there are steps you can take to ease this.

YW