Even when people with cerebral palsy follow an individualized treatment plan, they still may not achieve the level of muscle control and ease of movement that they desire. Consequently, many people with cerebral palsy combine alternative treatments with conventional ones. Although experts question the value of some of these treatments, others are gradually gaining wider recognition as being effective in relieving some symptoms of cerebral palsy. Those who receive such treatments often speak enthusiastically of the results, despite the discomfort they may experience. A young man with cerebral palsy talks about the alternative treatment he has participated in: .

If I knew someone with cerebral palsy, I would tell them to speak to my mom and dad, who know a lot about medicine and doctors. They found out about alternative medicine. When I was two years old, I went to Anat [an alternative practitioner]. She...