Cerebral palsy and self-care: looking after your mind, body and happiness

For people with cerebral palsy, the focus around health is centred on improving movement, getting adequate nutrition and managing pain.

Many people with cerebral palsy will experience chronic pain during their lifetime; this impacts not just the body but overall mental and emotional well being.

Moustafa Ardati is a motivational speaker and health fanatic who has cerebral palsy. The 32-year-old, who also has a condition called trigeminal neuralgia, is giving a fresh perspective on how he radically improved his health and quality of life.

Finally, here are some life-changing health tips from someone who has mastered the many obstacles of cerebral palsy and self-care.

1. Be realistic and start slow:

When Moustafa began his journey seven years ago, it started with his daily commute to the University of Technology Sydney, every day he would pass a local gym.

“I decided I’m smart; I may as well look after my fitness … I got sick of people trying to prove me wrong.”

From there Ardati contacted UTS and connected with a personal trainer to develop an exercise regimen that catered to his body.

2. The law of three:

During those initial sessions at the gym, there were obstacles along the way. To maintain his motivation, Moustafa turned the rule of three into a positive.

“Every night I wrote three things I wanted to work on and three things that I was grateful for.”

Ardati says this exercise kept him humble and grounded. If picking up a pen and writing is too difficult, try using a free smartphone application such as notepad or voice recorder to do this exercise every night before bed.

3. Find a personal trainer who gets you:

Having a strong rapport with your trainer and other specialists is also crucial. “If you don’t have that connection, you’re not going to take opinions, and they’re not going to push you,” Moustafa says.

Over the last few years, he has begun developing his nutrition and fitness regimen.

4. Add other experts to the mix:

Moustafa gradually built up those sessions, “If you add it all at once, it’s overwhelming,” he adds. He sees a physiotherapist and a chiropractor once a week for post-workout recovery.

5. Too much pain is not worth the gain:

The old saying “No pain, no gain” is universal. People with cerebral palsy understand that they must be more realistic and manage their pain daily. While Ardati admits pain has been part of his life, he also found a combination of techniques to control the pain.

“I’m really big on natural remedies; I try to avoid medicine if I can.”

• Weekly physiotherapy sessions include massage therapy to reduce muscle pain.
• Taking magnesium every night minimises muscles spasms and creates a better night’s sleep.
• Soaking your feet in Epsom salts improves nerve function and reduces swelling.
• Apple cider vinegar will lower cholesterol; this is particularly useful if cerebral palsy restricts your nutrition.
• Heat packs and hot baths (if you can take them) can also aide pain management.
• Eating your meals within an 8-10 hour window assists digestion and weight management

6. Mindfulness and deep breathing:

Aside from reducing his body fat percentage and dramatically increasing movement and muscle tone, his mental health is at its peak. Moustafa credits practising mindfulness and deep breathing exercises.

He even applies mindfulness to his eating habits, “I got into the habit of eating a little slower.”

His lifestyle change has improved his speech and ability to eat independently – two hurdles that people with cerebral palsy often face. Ardati’s lifelong stutter is gone.

It takes perseverance, But Moustafa Ardati’s attitude and lifestyle has increased the quality and quantity of his life.