We have pushed forward from using the football to improve coordinated movements. The football was a great tool, but trying something different is often helpful. The trainer pulled out a medicine ball for us to work with. He wanted to work a method of tossing and catching, we had done with the football. He also introduced an exercise I had never done before, to my recollection. The exercise felt like it was designed to improve coordination in my feet. This new movement was also done using the medicine ball. While, they were done from different body positions, one with my body upright and moving, the other from a seated position, each was interesting. The movement performed from the seated position was moving the medicine ball back and forth, with my feet. Attempting to kick the ball from one side to the other. If I had done anything like it in my lifetime, it would have happened at a young age. Possibly happening in some kind of physical therapy session. I took video of the movement taking place. Wanting to place images with some of my descriptions. In the hopes of providing ideas for helping other people with challenges. There seem to be many variations to a lot of the exercises we use. From using different sizes and structures of balls, to different weights of the balls. The creativity of the trainer has been helpful. But, with the ideas, I feel parents can also modify the exercises to help children.
Tossing the football back and forth, as we laterally moved down the floor, was fun. I will always enjoy the engagement of using an athletic ball for exercise. Using the football also provided some familiarity during a new exercise. There had been a considerable amount of time spent playing catch with the football. Throwing it back and forth, from a stationary position. When we got into a lateral movement, working with the football was familiar. Along similar lines, the medicine ball had been introduced with playing catch. The hard-sided ball was different from the soft sided exercise balls we had been throwing and catching. The medicine ball was also different in size and weight from the football, adding a different challenge. After tossing the medicine ball back and forth, from a stationary position, over the span of a couple weeks. The trainer challenged me with tossing and catching the ball, while on the move, during the lateral movement along the floor. The handling of the medicine ball during the throw and catch felt easier, as we moved down the turf. The ball was a little simpler to grab hold of, as compared with the football. The round shape helped with a quick grasp of the object. The weight of the ball did add some new complications. Where the shape of the football caused the challenge in playing catch, while moving quickly. The weight of the medicine ball meant I had to think about stability inside my body, making sure handling the weighted ball didn’t knock me out of a balanced position.
Moving from the football to the weighted medicine ball was exciting. The switch provided a feeling of progressing the movement, as though I had graduated from using the football for our lateral shuffle. The medicine ball we used had six pound of weight. Adding an exciting element to tossing the ball during the lateral movement, down the floor. Instead of grabbing the football and tossing it back, with the years of knowledge of catching the football. I had far less experience with handling any kind of weighted ball. Making the entire movement more challenging on my overall coordination, requiring me to think through the movements involved. For me, the weight of the exercise ball would be just enough to bump me off course, if I wasn’t careful. Bringing about a split moment when the ball was floating in my direction to think about stabilizing my position. Making sure my body was secure enough to receive the ball and its weight. My sturdy position would continue to be challenged throughout the moments I possessed the medicine ball. Extra stability and strength would be required the next part of the sequence, as well. Getting the weighted ball tossed back to the trainer, while continuing the lateral move, along the turf floor. With the challenges of my balance, brought about by my cerebral palsy, I felt like the return toss was more difficult than the catch.
It felt like there was added pressure on my coordination and balance, when tossing the medicine ball back to the trainer, as opposed to making the catch. Throwing back the medicine ball felt more complicated than flipping back the football. The weight of the ball placing added pressure on my ability to coordinate the movements. The progression from the football to the weighted medicine ball was having the intended impact. Placing me into a more concentrated state on the stability of my body positioning. Maintaining a position of strength when interacting with the weight of the ball had become important, on both the catch and the return toss. Something not necessarily occurring when the exercise was taking place with the football. Pushing the stimulus forward from the football to the medicine ball brought slight anxiety, as well. Knowing I had to rely heavily on my center of gravity, remaining solid in a stable position. Otherwise, allowing the weight of the medicine ball to cause a stumble, or trip, would be brought into question. I maintained the ability to stay focused on the task when the trainer lobbed the ball. Working with the different ball moved my stability and balance forward, using an exercise that brought some fun to a challenge. I didn’t understand the progress that could be made using balls of different sizes and weights to improve cerebral palsy balance challenges. It has taken a trainer with knowledge to move me along the path.
I will always enjoy the thrill involved with an athletic challenge. Many times, I feel like the instability of my body makes those athletic challenges more exciting. Moving laterally down a turf floor might seem pretty simple to someone typically developed. Without a specific purpose for performing the movement, a lateral slide, might be boring. With cerebral palsy, even performing the lateral slide causes exhilaration. The possibility of my feet crossing and causing a trip toward the floor, always feels close to happening, especially when moving in a direction unfamiliar, like laterally. However, after years of working with trainers, I understand that slight fear of tripping feels necessary for real improvement. When tossing a ball back and forth during a challenging movement happens, the drill becomes even more exhilarating. The possibility of a fall gets amplified, raising the anxiety I feel inside the exercise. However, with the elevation of fearful emotions comes the advantages of execution. The improvement of my coordination, which couldn’t be found without the added element of discomfort. My body finds ways in adapting to the new and ever-changing stimulation. Causing me to find an improved level of maintaining stability. Which, translates quickly into my athletic hobbies like skiing and playing golf. As we moved on from the lateral movement with the medicine ball catch. The trainer had me sit on the turf with the same medicine ball. We moved into a foot work exercise I had not tried before, aimed at moving the six-pound medicine ball with my feet. Another tool for working coordinated movements.
A Journey With Cerebral Palsy 