Occupational Therapy for Cerebral Palsy
Occupational therapy for cerebral palsy helps improve daily activities and independence, such as eating, drinking, playing, and getting dressed. The goal is to improve cognitive ability, fine motor skills, and other physical movements needed for daily life.
How Does Occupational Therapy Help?
Occupational therapy helps people with cerebral palsy develop the skills they need for everyday life, such as learning to get dressed, feeding themselves, grooming, and living independently.
Unlike physical therapy, which helps with movement and mobility, occupational therapy focuses on function and participation in daily activities. For children, this may involve learning, playing, and improving their independence.
Occupational therapy is a cornerstone of cerebral palsy treatment because it addresses everyday challenges from muscle stiffness, poor coordination, sensory difficulties, and cognitive delays.
Nearly 70% of cerebral palsy cases are linked to birth injuries. Find out if a birth injury caused your child's CP by speaking with a cerebral palsy lawyer and getting a free case review now.
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What Are the Benefits of Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy has many benefits, especially for children, such as:
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Increased independence
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Improved fine motor and coordination skills
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Enhanced school readiness and academic performance
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Stronger social participation and confidence
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Better sensory regulation and behavior management
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Greater quality of life for both the child and family
Occupational therapy benefits children in different areas of their lives. By children improving their abilities, this can also benefit parents by reducing their stress and daily demands, and by seeing their child improve by becoming more independent.
Daily Living Skills
- Dressing, grooming, and toileting
- Feeding and self-feeding (such as using adaptive utensils)
- Bathing, hygiene, and household tasks
Fine Motor Skills
- Grasping and manipulating objects
- Writing, drawing, or typing (keyboards, phones, tablets)
- Using zippers, buttons, and switches
Sensory Integrations
- Processing and responding to tactile, visual, and auditory inputs
- Managing sensory overload or under-responsiveness
Cognitive and Executive Functions
- Attention, memory, and planning skills
- Time management and organizational skills
Assistive Technology and Adaptive Equipment
- Recommending and training with tools such as specialized utensils, splints, or switch-based devices
- Modifying environments and living spaces to improve accessibility and independence
Quick Fact: Studies show that children with cerebral palsy who begin occupational therapy before age 3 make significantly greater functional gains compared to those who start later.
What Exercises Are Used in Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy is highly individualized, but most treatment plans will combine hands-on exercises, structured tasks, and adaptive tools to improve independence and functional ability.
Some common occupational therapy exercises include:
Fine Motor and Hand Exercises
Fine motor control is important for everyday tasks like writing, buttoning, or self-feeding. These exercises help strengthen small muscles, improve dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
Common fine motor exercises include:
- Pincer grasp training - Picking up small objects (coins, beads, buttons) between the thumb and index finger.
- Pegboard tasks - Placing colored pegs into a board to improve finger strength, coordination, and bilateral hand use.
- Therapy putty / clay exercises - Squeezing, stretching, and rolling resistance putty to build hand and finger strength.
- Clothespin transfers - Pinching and moving clothespins between containers to improve grip strength and endurance.
- Tweezer races - Picking up small pom-poms with tweezers to help refine precision.
- Button and zipper boards - Practicing fastening and unfastening clothing to help with dressing.
Self-Care and Daily Living Skills Exercises
Activities of daily living (ADLs) are a central focus of occupational therapy. Therapists will break down complex tasks into smaller, achievable steps and use repetition to build independence.
Examples of ADL exercises include:
- Self-feeding practice - Using adaptive utensils to practice scooping, cutting, and bringing food to the mouth.
- Dressing skills - Putting on shirts, socks, and shoes, usually with Velcro or adaptive fasteners.
- Grooming and hygiene - Practicing brushing teeth and hair, and washing hands with step-by-step visuals.
- Kitchen simulations - Supervised activities like stirring, pouring, or spreading to build coordination in both hands.
- Toileting skills - Using visual charts and adaptive toilet seats or holding on to grab bars.
Sensory Integration and Regulation Exercises
Many people with cerebral palsy experience sensory processing challenges. Occupational therapists use "sensory diets" - which are activities that help the brain to process and respond to sensory inputs better, such as:
- Weighted vest / lap pad use - Provides deep pressure input to improve focus and reduce hyperactivity.
- Tactile play - Decreases touch sensitivity by touching different textures such as sand, rice bins, and fabric swatches.
- Swinging or rocking exercises - Using a sensory swing to regulate vestibular input and improve balance.
- Obstacle courses - Climbing, crawling, and grabbing to help with motor skills.
- Deep pressure massages - Improves sensory modulation.
Cognitive and Executive Function Exercises
Occupational therapy also helps with mental skills needed for independence, especially in older children and teens.
Some exercises include:
- Sequencing games - Practicing the correct order of multi-step tasks like making a sandwich or building Legos.
- Visual schedules or checklists - Building planning and time management skills.
- Memory and matching games - Helps to strengthen short-term memory and attention span.
- Problem-solving tasks - Solving real-world tasks like organizing a backpack or setting a table.
Many cases of cerebral palsy are caused by preventable birth injuries. If you think your child's CP was due to medical negligence, contact us now and get a free case review at zero cost.
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What Tools Are Used in Occupational Therapy?
There are a wide variety of tools used for occupational therapy. These tools and devices are typically customized based on each child's abilities, goals, and environment.
Adaptive Utensils and Self-Feeding Tools
- Built-up handles - Thicker grips for easier holding.
- Angled spoons and forks - Helps to reduce wrist strain while eating.
- Non-slip plates and suction bowls - Prevents spills during meals.
- Universal cuffs - Allows utensil use even without finger grasp.
Dressing and Daily Living Aids
- Button hooks and zipper pulls - Helps assist with fine motor limitations.
- Velcro clothing or magnetic closures - Increases independence for children with poor dexterity.
- Adaptive shoe fasteners - Elastic laces or zipper systems for easier dressing.
Assistive Technology and Communication Tools
- Switch-activated devices - Control toys, lights, or tech with minimal movement.
- Eye-gaze or head-tracking systems - Allows interaction for those with severe motor limitations.
- Tablet / phone AAC apps - Helps communication for children with speech delays.
- Smart home tech integration - Control of lights, doors, or devices via switches or voice commands.
Splints, Braces, and Positioning Devices
- Resting hand splints - Prevents contractures and supports functional positioning.
- Thumb abduction orthoses - Improves grasp patterns.
- Custom seating systems - Optimizes posture for feeding, writing, and therapy.
- Adaptive workstations - Adjustable-height tables and supportive chairs for better engagement.
Environmental Adaptations
- Visual cueing systems - Colored tape and labels to help organize spaces.
- Grab bars and adaptive bathroom fixtures - Increases safety and independence.
- Accessible kitchen modifications - Pull-down shelves, lever handles, and seated workstations.
What Can I Expect at Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy is unique to each child's needs and abilities. During the first session, therapists will evaluate your child's communication skills, fine motor skills, mobility, and responsiveness to their environment.
Things like touch and movement are different for each child, so they will create a custom plan to address the most critical improvements that should be made.
For example, a 6 year-old with spastic diplegia might begin therapy with:
- 10 minutes of hand-strengthening using therapy putty and pegboards.
- 15 minutes of self-feeding practice with adaptive utensils and suction plates.
- 10 minutes of sensory regulation on a platform swing or with a weighted vest.
- 20 minutes of task-specific training like buttoning a shirt or assembling a simple snack.
Each session may focus on a more specific type of exercise depending on the child's capabilities. A licensed occupational therapist will also reevaluate a child's progression and track improvements every 6 months or so to update the treatment plan as needed.
Occupational Therapy by Age
Occupational therapy is helpful during all stages of life. However, the type of exercises and functions to improve may be different depending on the individual's age.
Early childhood (0-5) - Focuses on play-based therapy, self-feeding, sensory processing, and building foundational motor skills.
School-age (6-12) - Emphasizes academics, handwriting, classroom participation, and social skills.
Adolescence (13-18) - Preparing for independence, such as daily living skills, using technology, and vocational readiness.
Adulthood - Workplace adaptations, community participation, self-care, and maintaining independence.
Note: Many adults with cerebral palsy benefit from periodic "booster" occupational therapy sessions during different transitions of life such as starting a job, college, or independent living. This helps them stay up-to-date on skills they need for their new lifestyle changes.
Occupational Therapy by Type of Cerebral Palsy
Each type of cerebral palsy has different symptoms and challenges. Occupational therapy helps children with different types by using unique exercises and training specific to their needs.
Spastic: Common challenges of spastic CP are muscle stiffness, hypertonia, and limited range of motion. Children may struggle with precise movement, posture, and self-care tasks requiring flexibility and coordination. Some occupational therapy exercises for spastic cerebral palsy include:
- Stretching and range-of-motion activities - Repetitive exercises to increase flexibility and prevent contractures.
- Hand and finger dexterity work - Using therapy putty, pegboards, and fine motor games to improve grip and release.
- Postural stability training - Activities on therapy balls or balance surfaces to enhance trunk control.
Dyskinetic: Children with dyskinetic CP have limited control over their bodies due to involuntary, fluctuating, or twisting movements, which make precise tasks and sustaining posture difficult. Exercises may involve:
- Motor control exercises - Practicing slow, controlled movements like stacking blocks to improve voluntary control.
- Stabilization techniques - Training to use the trunk or larger muscle groups for more stable posture during fine tasks.
- Energy conservation training - Helps children complete tasks in ways that reduce fatigue caused by excessive movement.
Ataxic: Ataxic cerebral palsy causes impaired balance, shaky movements, and poor coordination. Children may have difficulty with precision, speed, or bilateral hand use. Occupational therapy will focus on:
- Hand-eye coordination - Activities like tossing beanbags into targets or using shape-sorter games.
- Fine motor tasks - Threading beads or using tongs to pick up items.
- Rhythm and timing drills - Using metronomes or music to coordinate repetitive actions like writing or buttoning.
Mixed: Mixed cerebral palsy involves symptoms of two or more types, usually spastic and dyskinetic. Therapy will target multiple challenges at the same time, such as stiffness and involuntary movement, and combine a variety of exercises.
How Do I Find an Occupational Therapist?
Choosing the right occupational therapist for your child is important to make sure that they get the best treatment possible. If your child is already involved in physical therapy or speech therapy, you can start by asking them if they can refer you to an occupational therapist in their network.
You can also ask your child's pediatrician to connect you with occupational therapists in your area. Be sure to choose a therapist who has experience working with children with cerebral palsy so they can create a custom plan tailored to your child's needs.
Visit our community resources page to find ways to connect with therapists and other specialists, as well as resources to help your child get the treatment they need.
The average lifetime cost to care for a child with cerebral palsy is over $1.6 million. Find out if your child is eligible for legal compensation. Get a free case review now.
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Occupational Therapy for Cerebral Palsy FAQs
Written and Medically Reviewed by:
Cerebral Palsy Hub Team
Cerebral Palsy Hub was founded to help support children and their families with cerebral palsy and to create a safe space for those affected. We strive to provide the most accurate, up-to-date information, and tools to help give your child the life they deserve.
Last Updated: October 11, 2025
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