There are so many sports that you can do if you have Erb's Palsy / Brachial Plexus Injury. Please don't think that you or your child will never be active. As a child I was advised not to play Rugby, as it's a contact sport. However, I play cricket, golf, squash, tennis and I go to the gym. You can do whatever you want to do. Check out the following article by one of my Instagram followers, as she confirms al of the above.
Growing up I always knew I had a problem with my left arm, I just didn’t know what it was called. It wasn’t until my early twenties when I discovered it had a name; erbs palsy, and I was not alone. I was a heavy baby when I was born and the doctors at the time stretched, and pulled my neck and shoulders injuring my nerves therefore paralyzing my left arm and breaking my right arm trying to deliver me. I was told by my mother how loudly I screamed as an infant during my physiotherapy sessions in trying to regain movement in my left-arm.
Through kindergarten and middle school I was often made fun of by the way I carried things and even the way I clapped my hands whenever I was told to do so. Whenever I was neutral my left arm would hang bent and slightly curved inwards. My mother always made a cautious effort to alert me whenever my arm lay that way and encouraged me to keep it straight at my side.
"I truly believe Sports and activities in general play a crucial role in dealing with erbs palsy, especially at a young age. I say this to encourage any parent or anyone living with erbs palsy. I can do almost anything with my left-arm now with a little help from my right hand to support."
I started learning how to play basketball when I was in the fifth grade and back then my coach noticed my disability and said something to me that I would never forget.
"You have a problem with your hand don’t you?" He said. "Don’t worry, you will play. You are going to use both your hands to play basketball”
I would never forget the way he encouraged me whenever I used my left-arm to bounce the ball.
“Bounce the ball with confidence!” He used to yell. He would follow me to and fro on the basketball court shouting those words. I struggled. Then after a long while, I was able to dribble and shoot the ball effortlessly with either hands. I made it to my school’s basketball team. I also learned how to play volleyball, and cricket in high school.
The power of sports
I truly believe sports and activities in general play a crucial role in dealing with #erbspalsy especially at a young age. I say this to encourage any parent or anyone living with #brachialplexusinjury. I can do almost anything with my left-arm now with a little help from my right hand to support. It is necessary to build strength in your erbs palsy arm if you can. Trust me, I know it hurts (that extremely uncomfortable pain), but do whatever you have to yoga, massage, gym sessions, swimming whichever sport or activity,to keep active and keep pushing forward.
You are not your disability, nor does it define you. You are capable of doing great things. Focus on you, your aspirations and goals and take it a day at a time. You are special and you are loved and that is what truly matters.
About the author: Thank you @kitkatle for taking the time to write this uplifting article, you are a true inspiration for all of us. Check her out on Instagram now.