Sports for teenagers with cerebral palsy?

[Halycon]

Hi everyone,

Teenage (16) relative has spastic CP. Lower joints are very tight and getting worse by the week. His parents are obviously worried and are getting nowhere with suggestions of sports/activities that he could do. Very inactive generally.

He’s happy doing nothing physical, but I think the root of his disinterest is probably because he’ll be the slowest/weakest/clumsiest/biggest mistake maker at any mainstream sports team/activity setting.

He does thrive in group activity, ironically, but has been the last one picked at PE, so to speak, since day one of school.

Any of you in/around Lanarkshire/Glasgow/Central Scotland know of any clubs/teams/recreational activities for this age group?

Everything online seems either aimed at much younger kids or people who use wheelchairs.

Thank you!

There's a frame running club based at Meadowmill sports centre in East Lothian.
At 16 he could probably join a gym.

Maybe not a sport but some form of exercise where there is no competition eg swimming or gym.

We’re in Aberdeen, but here there are gym classes specifically for teenagers, which might fit the bill? Or swimming would be great.

Is he doing his physio stretches? Its a hard time with a lot of growth spurts at that age leading to more tightness. The physio is key.

Have you contacted Disability Sport Glasgow? If he goes to a Glasgow school their Active Sports Coordinator will also have suggestions.

Disability Sport Scotland has links on its website to all the regional branches as well as the clubs that are involved (they say what age groups and whether they cater to physical or intellectual disabilites or both). I'm not in your area, but where I live there's a very wide range of disability sports available, including at mainstream clubs which offer specialised disability coaching.
In Glasgow there are lots of swimming clubs which cater to disabilities of various kinds, and there's also Red Star athletics club.

Bowls? There is a disabled bowls group - and no, it isn’t just for old people!
https://www.bowlsengland.com/bowling-with-a-disability/

Thanks everyone.

To answer a few things - he can’t swim, was never able to learn. Also can’t ride a bike and has no motivation/interest in learning either.

Gym has been floated as an idea. Again, little interest. I think the issue is finding something he does like.

He hasn’t done any PT exercises for years, which I suppose explains the reduction in his function. It’s been very frustrating for his parents.

I think the current concern is that if he does have a growth spurt, his muscles and tendons are so short and tight that they won’t be able to accommodate the growth.

I’ll keep these ideas/suggestions in mind. It’s just trying to get him engaged with something before he potentially has a lifetime of pain and mobility issues ahead.

Thanks again, everyone!

There is lots in Perth but that’s too far away.

Boccia
ASN Swimming including galas
ASN Athletics
ASN Archery

etc, etc.

definitely swimming - I teach disability swimming and have quite a few children with CP. it can take longer and there’s adaptations needed but all of mine managed to swim eventually and I know from talking to parents they all find being in the water a really positive experience - less resistance good for muscle conditioning, they feel much freerer etc.

Google RYA Sailability, designed for disabled people with special boats. For young people and adults.

Golf
archery

Both are sports which are non-physical.

Was also thinking of sailing, which is fairly geared up for people with disabilities.

Also, apparently darts is increasingly getting popular amongst the youth.

Has he ever tried martial arts? Just wondering because it’s all self paced and a really good general exercise. I don’t know if it would be possible to join a specific class but I know there are children and adults at all levels in my son’s class and everyone progresses at their own pace so maybe an option? Wouldn’t be any shame involved with being a beginner as people start at all ages.

Try disability cricket. Your DS could have a runner. My FS belongs to a disabilitu cricket team and they have a player with CP. He is a batter but has a runner.

Does he use a wheelchair? A friend has joined wheelchair basketball & loves it. He also really enjoys the social side of it as well as the games.

Definitely contact Scottish Disability sports. He might find being around others with a similar disability will motivate him. Hopefully he will find something he enjoys and will restart physio exercises as well. There are so many opp - climbing, martial arts, surfing, archery, shooting, boccia, wheelchair sports. Just depends what he fancies.