UNS — As a form of Higher Education Tri Dharma, Sports Studies with Special Needs Research Group of the Faculty of Sports (FKOR) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, held a community service program with SLB D YPAC Surakarta. The event titled “Physical and Mental Intervention to Improve Children Independence with Cerebral Palsy” implemented the first socialization on Monday (28/6/2021).
The research group was led by Febriani Fajar Ekawati, S.Pd., M.Or., Ph.D and Dra. Ismaryati, M.Kes., Tri Winarti Rahayu, S.Pd., M.Or., and Hendrig Joko Prasetyo, S.Pd., M.Or., as members.
Children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) have movement and body coordination disorders caused by brain development disorders. This condition makes children with CP have difficulties in doing daily activities at home and school. The difficulties include the inability to push wheelchairs, touch objects, open doors, and doing their personal needs.
SLB D YPAC Surakarta has 26 students with CP, two sports teachers, and nine classroom teachers. Considering the teacher-student ratio, the research group thought that the teachers would be challenged to handle their students well if children with CP have not developed independence in their daily school activities.
The community service program aims to assist the school by providing a muscle strengthening exercise program, which is programmed specifically for students with CP in SLB D YPAC Surakarta, especially for their upper limbs (hands and arms). Information on simple training and mental training for children with CP is also provided for parents and teachers. This program is expected to develop independence in students with CP in SLB D YPAC Surakarta.
The community service program will be implemented in three stages: the first stage, socialization of program, then training and assistance for teachers and parents, and lastly, assistance for the implementation of exercise for children with CP. The training consists of ball squeezing, finger strength grip, wrist flexion and extension, elbow flexion and extension, arm abduction and adduction, and forearm inner & outer rotation, for six weeks after socialization.
“We hope that with this program, parents and teachers will understand simple strength training for children with Cerebral Palsy. If the hands and arms strength can be trained, we hope that it will improve their independence,” Febriani Fajar Ekawati, Ph.D., stated on Saturday (3/7/2021). Humas UNS
Reporter: Rangga Pangestu Adji
Editor: Dwi Hastuti