15 Sports Kids With Cerebral Palsy Can Play

Parents who have children with disabilities want to provide their kids with as normal a life as possible. This means giving them the opportunities to participate in the activities in which they are interested. While there was a time when children with disabilities were severely limited in their sporting options, times have changed. There are almost always adaptive sporting options available for children of all disability levels.

Cerebral Palsy Athlete Classification

Adaptive sports give people with cerebral palsy the option to enjoy the same activities as fully-abled people on a level playing field. While there are athletes at the top levels of their sports who have disabilities, some disabilities are too severe for athletes to compete in a typical arena. Those confined to a wheelchair would have a difficult time competing against fully-abled athletes in many sports. 

However, by adapting the game to fit the abilities of the athletes and pitting them against others with similar mobility restrictions many people nearly any sport can be a fun and rewarding experience for anyone who wishes to play. 

The United States Cerebral Palsy Athlete Association has an eight-level classification system to help match athletes against others that share a similar impairment level.  

The level one classification is the most severe. People in this classification are severely quadriplegic and have limited strength in the upper extremities. People at this level are unable to grasp a softball and often require an electric wheelchair for independence. 

People down at the level eight classification are minimally affected by their cerebral palsy and are able to run and jump freely with good balance. People with a level eight classification are often able to compete on a level playing field with fully-abled athletes depending on the sport and their position.

The Most Accessible Sports for People With Cerebral Palsy

While any sport can be accessible for people with a level eight classification, those with a level one classification might find that there are a few sports without good adaptive versions for their disability level. Overall there are some sports that are a lot more easily accessible to a wide range of athletes with cerebral palsy than others. 

Two sports that are not only accessible for a wide range of people with cerebral palsy but can also help those individuals to develop skills that can assist them in other areas of their life are swimming and horseback riding. 

Swimming is an ideal sport for many people with cerebral palsy. Being in the water reduces pressure on the joints and allows athletes to focus on the sport itself rather than worrying about the restrictions imposed on their body by gravity. Swimming engages the entire body and helps build endurance and muscle strength while also helping alleviate many of the stiff body motions often associated with cerebral palsy. 

While parents may worry about their child having difficulty with their muscle movements and drowning, children with cerebral palsy are never left unattended in the pool. There is always at least one physical therapist around supervising their activity and ensuring they stay safe. 

Horseback riding is great for children with cerebral palsy because it can help them with their balance, strength, and posture. Due to the constant movement of the horse, riders are forced to continually adjust their center of gravity in order to stay balanced. The constant tiny adjustments will help a child with cerebral palsy to build core strength, helping to improve their mobility in all areas of their life. 

Interaction with the horse is also likely to keep your child more engaged in the sport and make them want to practice more, further improving the skills they are building. 

In addition to these sports, there are dozens of others that have good adaptive versions. Some of the best include: 

●     Archery

●     Basketball

●     Canoeing

●     Cycling

●     Golf

●     Kayaking

●     Martial Arts

●     Power Soccer

●     Running

●     Snowboarding

●     Strength Training

●     Tennis

●     Volleyball

Sports Are a Great Way to Keep Moving

People with cerebral palsy need to remain active. While the brain damage that causes cerebral palsy does not get worse with age, not regularly exercising can still further restrict movement. While it is possible to regain the movement lost through more exercise, it also becomes increasingly more difficult to do so. By keeping active, this snowballing effect can be avoided. 

Sports can be a fun way to get the needed exercise, while also giving kids with cerebral palsy opportunities to forget about their condition and simply feel like a kid, enjoying playing with other children.

Don't Let Cerebral Palsy Stop You

Cerebral palsy is a condition that begins early in life and is often the result of medical malpractice. It can be very difficult to know that you could have lived life as a fully-abled person if it weren't for the mistake of a doctor. However, cerebral palsy does not have to be about the things that were lost. In today's world, someone with cerebral palsy still has many opportunities. Don't let anyone tell you what you can't do. Show them what you can.