Range-of-Motion
and Other Exercises
42CHAPTER
367
All children need exercise to keep their bodies strong, flexible, and healthy. Most
village children get all the exercise they need through ordinary daily activity: crawling,
walking, running, climbing, playing games,
lifting things, carrying the baby, and helping
with work in the house and farm.
As much as is possible, disabled children
should get their exercise in these same
ways. However, sometimes a child’s
disability does not let him use or move his
body, or parts of it, well enough to get the
exercise he needs. Muscles that are not
used regularly grow weak. Joints that are
not moved through their full range of motion
get stiff and can no longer be completely
straightened or bent (see Chapter 8 on
contractures). So we need to make sure
that the disabled child uses and keeps strong
whatever muscles he has, and that he moves
all the parts of his body through their full
range of motion. Sometimes a child may need
help with these exercises. But as much as
possible, he should be encouraged to do them
himself, in ways that are useful and fun.
As much as possible, disabled children should get
their exercise in ways that are useful and fun!
Different exercises for different needs
Different kinds of exercises are needed to meet the special needs of different
children. On the next two pages we give an example of each kind of exercise. Then we
look at some of the different exercises in more detail.
Purpose of exercise
To maintain or increase
joint motion
To maintain or increase
strength
To improve position
To improve control
Kind of exercise
1. range-of-motion exercises (ROM)
2. stretching exercises
3. strengthening exercise with motion:
exercises that work the muscles and
move the joint against resistance
4. strengthening exercises without
motion: exercises that work the
muscles without moving the joint
5. practice at holding things or
doing things in good positions
6. practice doing certain movements
and actions, to improve balance or
control
Pages with good examples
224, 368, 378
83, 368, 383
368, 378, 388
140, 141, 368
96, 149, 164
306, 325, 369