Looking for the most effective core exercises for someone with cerebral palsy?
Core strength plays a powerful role in balance, posture, walking, and everyday independence. Yet because cerebral palsy affects each child differently, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Some children experience challenges primarily in their legs, others on one side of the body, and some throughout their entire body. The severity and movement patterns can vary widely, which means exercises should be thoughtfully adapted to meet each individual where they are.
In this guide, we’ll walk through 8 core exercises designed for individuals with cerebral palsy, along with practical tips to make each movement easier or more challenging. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or therapist, you’ll find options that can be adjusted to support safe, steady progress.
Let’s dive in!
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Core Exercises for Cerebral Palsy
A strong core does much more than create good posture. It acts as the body’s central support system, linking the upper and lower body so movements feel steadier and more controlled. For individuals with cerebral palsy, core strength can directly influence balance, breathing, coordination, and overall endurance throughout the day.
In fact, individuals with cerebral palsy and a weak core are more likely to experience difficulties with digestion, shortness of breath, and injury. Therefore, it’s essential to practice core exercises to minimize the risk of complications.
The good news is that core strength can improve with consistent, targeted practice. Below, you’ll find 8 core exercises designed to help individuals with cerebral palsy build stability and support safer, more confident movement.
So without further delay, let’s jump in!
1. Deep Breathing
When most people think about the diaphragm, they think about breathing. However, the diaphragm is also one of the most important muscles for core stability.
Your core is not just your abs. It is a coordinated system that includes the diaphragm at the top, the abdominal muscles in the front and sides, the spinal muscles in the back, and the pelvic floor at the bottom. Together, these muscles create gentle pressure inside the trunk that helps stabilize the spine and support upright posture.
The diaphragm plays a key role in this process. Every time you inhale, it contracts and moves downward, increasing pressure within the abdomen. When you exhale, it relaxes and moves upward. These pressure changes help support the spine, influence balance, and improve trunk control.
Try this: take a slow, deep breath in through your nose and then exhale fully through your mouth. Notice how your abdomen expands and then gently draws inward. That movement is not just about air. It reflects the coordinated effort of your diaphragm, abdominal muscles, and intercostals, which are the muscles between your ribs.
Practicing deep, controlled breathing can help strengthen this entire system. Over time, better diaphragm activation can contribute to improved posture, steadier balance, and greater core stability overall.
2. Trunk Twists
Trunk twists are a great way to strengthen the sides of the core, also known as the obliques. Depending on how cerebral palsy affects your child’s body, these can be performed in different ways.
One option is to have your child lie flat on their back with their knees bent and feet on the floor. Keep their shoulders relaxed and flat against the surface. Gently tilt their knees to one side, hold for a few seconds, then bring them back to center and repeat on the other side.
This is considered a passive exercise because you are guiding the movement. Even so, encourage your child to pay attention to how their body feels as it moves. Focusing on the motion can help promote cortical excitability in the brain and greater awareness/control over time.
For a more active version, have your child sit upright in a chair. Gently hold their knees together to stabilize the lower body. Then ask your child to rotate their upper body to one side, hold for 3 to 5 seconds, and return to center before twisting to the other side. This version encourages more active core engagement while still allowing you to provide support as needed.
3. Crunches
Crunches are a classic exercise that help strengthen the abdominal muscles, which play an important role in posture, balance, and trunk control.
If your child is performing traditional crunches on the floor, make sure they are lying on a padded mat or soft surface to reduce pressure on the tailbone. You can also use a stability ball to provide support and decrease friction while encouraging gentle core activation.
For a simpler option, try seated side crunches. Have your child sit upright in a chair with both feet flat on the floor. Ask them to raise their left arm overhead and slowly lean their upper body to the right. They should feel a gentle stretch along the left side of their trunk. Hold for 5 to 10 seconds, then return to center.
Repeat on the other side by raising the right arm and leaning to the left. This seated variation is often easier while still helping strengthen the side abdominal muscles and improve trunk mobility.
4. Knees to Chest
The knees to chest exercise can help strengthen the lower abdominals and hip flexors, which are important for walking, sitting balance, and overall trunk control.
To perform this core exercise, have your child lie flat on their back on a comfortable surface. Bend one knee and guide it toward the chest.
If possible, encourage your child to assist with the movement rather than relying entirely on their arms to pull the leg in. The goal is to have the hip and abdominal muscles actively engaged, even if you are providing some support.
After returning the leg to the starting position, repeat on the other side.
To make the exercise more challenging, try adding a gentle cross-body motion. Ask your child to bring the right elbow toward the left knee, then switch and bring the left elbow toward the right knee. This creates a controlled twisting movement that strengthens not only the front of the core but also the sides of the trunk.
As your child becomes more comfortable with the movement and maintains good form, you can gradually increase the number of repetitions or slightly increase the pace. Focus on proper form first, then build endurance over time.
5. Planks
Planks are an excellent exercise because they engage the entire body at once, making them a highly efficient way to build core strength and stability.
To perform this exercise, have your child start in a push-up position with their hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Their neck should stay in line with their back, and their gaze should be directed down toward the floor to keep the spine in a neutral position.
If a full plank is too challenging, modify the exercise by having your child rest on their knees instead of their toes. They can also perform the plank on their forearms rather than their hands to reduce wrist pressure and improve stability. These adjustments still strengthen the core while making the exercise more manageable.
Aim to hold the position for 20 to 30 seconds, or for as long as your child can maintain proper form. Over time, you can gradually increase the duration as their strength improves.
6. Bridges
Bridges are a great core exercise option for strengthening the lower back, glutes, and deep core muscles, all of which support posture and stability.
To get started, have your child lie on their back with knees bent and feet flat on the floor, about hip-width apart. Their arms should rest comfortably at their sides with palms facing down to provide gentle support.
From this position, encourage them to press through their feet and slowly lift their hips toward the ceiling. The movement should raise the mid and lower back off the floor while the shoulders remain relaxed and grounded. Try to keep the knees aligned rather than letting them fall outward or inward.
Hold the bridge for a few seconds, then slowly lower the hips back down with control. Focus on smooth, steady movement rather than speed to help build strength and coordination.
7. Wheelbarrow
The wheelbarrow walk is a fun, interactive exercise that strengthens the shoulders, arms, and deep core muscles while also improving coordination and weight-bearing through the upper body.
Start by having your child lie on their stomach on a soft surface. Gently lift their lower legs or hold at the ankles so their lower body is supported off the ground. Then encourage your child to press up onto their hands or forearms, keeping their head in line with their body.
Once they are stable, you can turn it into a movement activity. Ask your child to “walk” forward on their hands for a few steps while you continue supporting their legs. If appropriate, you can also guide them to take a few small steps backward.
For children who are just starting, keep the holds brief and focus on maintaining proper alignment. As strength improves, gradually increase the distance or time spent walking to continue building endurance and control.
8. Hula Hooping
Hula hooping is a playful way to strengthen the core, and for many kids, it feels more like a game than a workout.
The continuous circular motion activates the abdominal and trunk muscles to keep the body upright and balanced. At the same time, your child will likely be focused on keeping the hoop from falling, which naturally encourages repeated core engagement without it feeling repetitive or tedious.
If you are just getting started, a slightly weighted hula hoop can be easier to control and keep moving. Lighter hoops tend to require quicker, more active movements, which can increase the challenge and energy demand.
As always, start with short practice sessions and gradually build up time as your child’s endurance and coordination improve.
Core Exercises for Children With Cerebral Palsy and Limited Mobility or Wheelchair Restrictions
Cerebral palsy affects each child in unique ways, so core exercises should always be adapted to match your child’s specific strengths and challenges. The goal is to provide a level of challenge that encourages growth while still feeling safe and achievable.
Even small amounts of controlled movement can make a meaningful difference.
For children with more limited mobility, simply sitting on a stability ball with proper support can gently activate the core. Because the surface is slightly unstable, the body must make subtle, continuous adjustments to stay balanced. Those small corrections help engage the trunk muscles and improve postural control over time.
For children who use a wheelchair, seated core exercises can also be performed directly in the chair. Movements such as supported trunk rotations, reaching tasks, or upright posture holds can all help build strength and endurance while maintaining safety.
The video below demonstrates several core exercises that may be appropriate for children who use a wheelchair. Always supervise closely and modify as needed to ensure proper alignment and comfort.
Final Thoughts on Core Exercises for Cerebral Palsy
For children with cerebral palsy, a stronger core can support better posture, steadier balance, improved breathing, and more confident movement in everyday life. Even small gains in trunk control can make meaningful differences in sitting, standing, walking, and participating in daily activities.
The key is consistency.
Try to start with short, focused practice sessions done regularly as this can help build up the habit and are often more effective than occasional long workouts.
Most importantly, keep it encouraging and, when possible, make it fun. Whether it is through playful activities like hula hooping or interactive exercises like wheelbarrow walks, engagement helps reinforce repetition.
Every child’s journey with cerebral palsy is unique. By adapting exercises to meet your child where they are today, you can help them continue building strength, stability, and independence over time.
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