Cerebral palsyalso known as CPis a condition caused by injury to the parts of the brain that control our ability to use our muscles and bodies. Cerebral means having to do with the brain. Palsy means weakness or problems with using the muscles. Often the injury happens before birth, sometimes during delivery, or soon after being born. Physical symptoms typically appear in the first few years of life. Infants with cerebral palsy are frequently slow to reach developmental milestones such as learning to roll over, sit, crawl, smile, or walk. Cerebral palsy occurs in 1 in every 300 children (Source: Center for Disease Control).
CP can be mild, moderate, or severe. Mild CP may mean a child is clumsy. Moderate CP may mean the child walks with a limp. He or she may need a special leg brace or a cane. More severe CP can affect all parts of a childs physical abilities. A child with moderate or severe CP may have to use a wheelchair and other special equipment.
Sometimes children with CP can also have learning problems, speech, problems with hearing or seeing (called sensory problems), intellectual differences, and behavioral or emotional challenges. Cerebral palsy does not always cause serious disabilities. Usually, the greater the injury to the brain, the more severe the CP. However, CP doesnt get worse over time, and most children with CP have a normal life span.
Stroke in young children often results in a movement disordervery similar to that resulting from cerebral palsy. In a 2008 study, the frequency of cerebral palsy following a perinatal arterial stroke was 68 percent. Of those children who had cerebral palsy, 87% had hemiplegic cerebral palsy. [1]
Learn more about hemiplegic cerebral palsy.
Several of the causes of cerebral palsy that have been identified through research are:
Doctors diagnose cerebral palsy by:
Although its symptoms may change over time, cerebral palsy by definition is not progressive, so if a patient shows additional medical issues, the problem may be something other than cerebral palsy.
There is no standard therapy that works for all children with cerebral palsy. Some of the therapies used to treat children with cerebral palsy include:
The upper motor neuron syndrome of cerebral palsy leads to several types of muscle over activity, including spasticity, which means muscles tighten involuntarily. Children with hemiplegia develop spasticity on one side of the body. Spastic muscles do not show typical growth patterns and over time, muscle contractures can develop. Reducing muscle spasticity may be an important goal of treatment. This can improve comfort and function and help prevent future musculoskeletal complications such as contractures (permanent tightening of the muscle). Early prevention of contractures may reduce the need for corrective surgery.
A primary treatment option for spasticity is physical therapy which may promote maximum joint motion and muscle lengthening. When physical therapy isnt enough, other treatment options include injections of botulinum toxin, muscle lengthening surgery, selective dorsal rhizotomy, and the Baclofen pump.
Diagnostic assessment of the child with cerebral palsy 2008 Report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the Practice Committee of the Child Neurology Society
Cerebral Palsy Syndromes
Cerebral Palsy The following brief description of this condition contains an overview of material discussed in much more depth in a book Cerebral palsy; A guide for care by Miller, Bachrach, et al published by Hopkins Press
Cerebral Palsy: Hope Through Research NINDS
Cerebral Palsy International Research Foundation
American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine
Center for Cerebral Palsy Spasticity St. Louis Childrens Hospital
How Can I Help? CP Booklet
Cerebral Palsy Fact Sheet 2 NICHCY
Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy
Antenatal risk factors for cerebral palsy
What do you mean whats wrong with her?': stigma and the lives of families of children with disabilities.
Can We Prevent Cerebral Palsy? Karin Nelson, MD
Everyday functioning in young children with cerebral palsy: functional skills, caregiver assistance, and modifications of the environment
Development of hand function among children with cerebral palsy: growth curve analysis for ages 16 to 70 months
Stress and adaptation in mothers of children with cerebral palsy
Intrauterine exposure to infection and risk of cerebral palsy in very preterm infants.
Cerebral palsy in childhood: 250 cases report
Cerebral palsy in twins: a national study
Pain in children with cerebral palsy: common triggers and expressive behaviors To obtain parents identification and description of the behaviors, health care procedures and daily living situations associated with pain in children with cerebral palsy. Canada.
Minocycline markedly protects the neonatal brain against hypoxic-ischemic injury
Brain reorganisation in cerebral palsy: a high-field functional MRI study. 1 subject, 15 years old, with perinatal left-sided hemiparesis.
1. Cerebral palsy after perinatal arterial ischemic stroke
Go here to see the original:
Cerebral Palsy - CHASA
- Muscular Dystrophy - OrthoInfo - AAOS - December 25th, 2017 [December 25th, 2017]
- Adult Stem Cells - Therapies and Treatments - January 3rd, 2018 [January 3rd, 2018]
- Stem Cell Treatment for Cerebral Palsy Beike Biotechnology - January 22nd, 2018 [January 22nd, 2018]
- Crohns Disease and Ulcerative Colitis - February 6th, 2018 [February 6th, 2018]
- Ulcerative Colitis - Drugs.com - February 6th, 2018 [February 6th, 2018]
- Eczema Symptoms | Causes | Treatments | Types | Triggers - March 2nd, 2018 [March 2nd, 2018]
- Atopic Eczema - Patient - March 12th, 2018 [March 12th, 2018]
- Arnold Schwarzenegger undergoes heart surgery | Film | The ... - April 4th, 2018 [April 4th, 2018]
- Arnold Schwarzenegger Undergoes Emergency Heart Surgery - April 4th, 2018 [April 4th, 2018]
- Cardiac Surgery - University of California, San Francisco ... - April 4th, 2018 [April 4th, 2018]
- Cerebral Palsy Spasticity in Children - Causes, Effects ... - May 6th, 2018 [May 6th, 2018]
- Cardiac catheterization - Mayo Clinic - May 22nd, 2018 [May 22nd, 2018]
- Welcome to the ABG Tutorial - Welcome to Hansen Nursing - May 22nd, 2018 [May 22nd, 2018]
- UKNEQAS for Molecular Genetics - May 23rd, 2018 [May 23rd, 2018]
- Congenital Heart Defects, Simplified - May 23rd, 2018 [May 23rd, 2018]
- Interventional radiology - Wikipedia - May 27th, 2018 [May 27th, 2018]
- Heart Rhythm Abnormalities (Arrhythmias) - NYP.org - May 30th, 2018 [May 30th, 2018]
- Cardiac rhythm abnormalities - symptoms and treatment ... - May 30th, 2018 [May 30th, 2018]
- Pediatric Heart Institute | Children's Hospital Vanderbilt - June 2nd, 2018 [June 2nd, 2018]
- Concentric Remodeling - Cardioserv - June 5th, 2018 [June 5th, 2018]
- Aegean Conferences - June 7th, 2018 [June 7th, 2018]
- 2018 Cardiac Regulatory Mechanisms Conference GRC - June 7th, 2018 [June 7th, 2018]
- Fight Heart Disease - Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute - June 7th, 2018 [June 7th, 2018]
- NHS Direct Wales - Encyclopaedia : Ulcerative colitis - June 11th, 2018 [June 11th, 2018]
- Cannabis Treatment for Parkinson's Disease Green Rush Daily - June 11th, 2018 [June 11th, 2018]
- Diuretics - Pharmacology - Merck Veterinary Manual - June 18th, 2018 [June 18th, 2018]
- 2018 Multiscale Plant Vascular Biology Conference GRC - June 23rd, 2018 [June 23rd, 2018]
- Cerebral Palsy Treatment | Birth Injury Guide - July 9th, 2018 [July 9th, 2018]
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology | University of Maryland ... - July 11th, 2018 [July 11th, 2018]
- Nuclear Medicine - Molecular Imaging - Nuclear Medicine ... - July 11th, 2018 [July 11th, 2018]
- Blood vessel - Wikipedia - July 12th, 2018 [July 12th, 2018]
- What is Atrial Fibrillation (AF)? - Heart Foundation NZ - July 15th, 2018 [July 15th, 2018]
- EBR Systems, Inc - July 17th, 2018 [July 17th, 2018]
- Coronary artery disease - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic - July 29th, 2018 [July 29th, 2018]
- CV Physiology | Ventricular and Atrial Hypertrophy and ... - July 31st, 2018 [July 31st, 2018]
- Cardiac Surgery Advanced life Support - Home - August 2nd, 2018 [August 2nd, 2018]
- Cardiac Nursing Care: NCP - 5 Nursing Diagnosis for ... - August 2nd, 2018 [August 2nd, 2018]
- Welcome to Hansen Nursing - August 2nd, 2018 [August 2nd, 2018]
- TARA / Innovating predictive cardiac physiology - August 18th, 2018 [August 18th, 2018]
- Board of Directors Summary - Victor Chang Cardiac Research ... - August 18th, 2018 [August 18th, 2018]
- Wound Care - KRMC - September 19th, 2018 [September 19th, 2018]
- Welcome to the ABG Tutorial - Welcome to Hansen - October 13th, 2018 [October 13th, 2018]
- Sudden Death in Dogs - Pet Health Network - October 15th, 2018 [October 15th, 2018]
- gmcheart.com - Cardiovascular Services at Gwinnett Medical ... - November 14th, 2018 [November 14th, 2018]
- Interventional Cardiology | WVU Heart and Vascular Institute - November 21st, 2018 [November 21st, 2018]
- Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction) | Symptoms and Causes - November 22nd, 2018 [November 22nd, 2018]
- Cerebral Palsy | Boston Children's Hospital - November 27th, 2018 [November 27th, 2018]
- Cerebral Palsy | Cleveland Clinic - November 27th, 2018 [November 27th, 2018]
- Cerebral Palsy - November 27th, 2018 [November 27th, 2018]
- Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis and Treatments | Gillette Children's ... - November 27th, 2018 [November 27th, 2018]
- Cerebral palsy | Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center ... - November 27th, 2018 [November 27th, 2018]
- Spastic cerebral palsy - Wikipedia - November 27th, 2018 [November 27th, 2018]
- Cerebral Palsy Symptoms & Types - WebMD - November 27th, 2018 [November 27th, 2018]
- Cerebral palsy - NHS - November 27th, 2018 [November 27th, 2018]
- Ventricle (heart) - Wikipedia - December 4th, 2018 [December 4th, 2018]
- Cardiomyopathy - Wikipedia - December 5th, 2018 [December 5th, 2018]
- Cardiomyopathy - British Heart Foundation - December 5th, 2018 [December 5th, 2018]
- Cardiomyopathy | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute ... - December 5th, 2018 [December 5th, 2018]
- Community Mental Health Centers - MS Department of Mental ... - December 9th, 2018 [December 9th, 2018]
- Atopic dermatitis (eczema) - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic - December 23rd, 2018 [December 23rd, 2018]
- Dermatitis - Wikipedia - December 23rd, 2018 [December 23rd, 2018]
- Eczema Symptoms & Causes | National Eczema Association - December 23rd, 2018 [December 23rd, 2018]
- Eating too much added sugar increases the risk of dying ... - December 25th, 2018 [December 25th, 2018]
- Heart Diseases & Disorders - December 25th, 2018 [December 25th, 2018]
- 5 Types of Heart Disease Symptoms, Risk Factors, Causes ... - December 25th, 2018 [December 25th, 2018]
- Different heart diseases - World Heart Federation - December 25th, 2018 [December 25th, 2018]
- Cardiovascular disease - Wikipedia - December 25th, 2018 [December 25th, 2018]
- Cardiac arrest - Wikipedia - December 27th, 2018 [December 27th, 2018]
- What Is Arrhythmia? Symptoms, Treatment, Causes & Types - December 27th, 2018 [December 27th, 2018]
- Heart arrhythmia - Wikipedia - December 27th, 2018 [December 27th, 2018]
- The Heart Truth - Lower Heart Disease Risk - December 30th, 2018 [December 30th, 2018]
- What are the different types of heart disease? | Heart ... - December 30th, 2018 [December 30th, 2018]
- Radiofrequency ablation - Wikipedia - January 14th, 2019 [January 14th, 2019]
- Singanitropin HGH 100 IU by Singani Pharma - pharmacomstore.ws - February 9th, 2019 [February 9th, 2019]
- Photosynthesis - Definition, Equation and Products ... - March 6th, 2019 [March 6th, 2019]
- Cardiology Conferences | Cardiology World Congress 2019 ... - March 18th, 2019 [March 18th, 2019]
- 2019 Tissue Repair and Regeneration Conference GRC - April 2nd, 2019 [April 2nd, 2019]
- The SHaRe Cardiomyopathy Registry - April 8th, 2019 [April 8th, 2019]
- Heart arrhythmia - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic - April 20th, 2019 [April 20th, 2019]
- Cardiac Rhythms | Lessons and Practice Strips - April 20th, 2019 [April 20th, 2019]