Most children with cerebral palsy have used the spasticity to help them do many things. Now, they must learn new patterns of muscle use and activity. Without postoperative therapy, your child will remain weak and will be able to do even less than before surgery. Daily physical and occupational therapy continues after discharge, every dayfor the first six to eight weeks and two to three times a week thereafter. A home program is an essential part of this therapy.
Many centers have six weeks of intensive inpatient therapy after surgery.
At the MCG Children's Medical Center, we have found that outpatient therapy, supplemented with therapy at home, maximizes our patients' results. Without that therapy, surgery will not have all the benefits you hope for. Your child will be weak for about three to six months. Children who could walk before will walk weakly at first but will build strength with therapy. Within six months to a year, they will be able to do more than they could before surgery.