Cerebral palsy (also called CP) is a group of conditions that affects the parts of your brain that control your muscles. This can cause problems with movement, posture (standing up straight) and balance. Some but not all children with CP also may have other conditions, like intellectual and developmental disabilities. These are problems with how the brain works that can cause a person to have trouble or delays in physical development, learning, communicating, taking care of himself or getting along with others. About 1 in 300 children (less than 1 percent) has CP. Most children are diagnosed by the time theyre 2 years old. CP is the most common cause of movement problems in childhood. There are four kinds of CP that are based on the type of movement problems a child has. Spastic means tight or stiff muscles, or muscles that spasm (get tight). This is the most common kind of CP. About 4 in 5 children (80 percent) with CP have spastic CP. These children have stiff muscles and may have awkward body movements. Signs and symptoms of spastic CP include: There are three kinds of spastic CP: Yes. Other kinds of CP include: CP can be different … Continue reading →

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a broad term that includes a group of physical and sometimes cognitive disabilities that interfere with your childs physical function. It is a lifelong condition that affects communication between the brain and muscles, causing trouble with a variety of activities including speaking, eating, sitting, walking and using the hands. CP is usually diagnosed in early childhood and, while there is no cure, a wide range of treatments and therapies are available to help your child achieve greater independence. Cerebral palsy is the result of an injury to an immature brain often due to a stroke, infection or accident. Other causes can include brain malformation or low oxygen. Premature babies have a higher risk of developing CP. What are the types of cerebral palsy? Spastic: The most common type of movement disorder in people with CP is spasticity. This refers to tightness or resistance to stretch. Additionally, children with spastic CP have weakness and trouble coordinating their movements. Spasticity can affect one or more areas of your childs body, making muscles tight and difficult to use. Treatment likely would include therapy, bracing and possibly oral or injectable medication. Sometimes children with spastic CP can benefit from an … Continue reading →

Spastic diplegia cerebral palsy is a form of cerebral palsy, a neurological condition that usually appears in infancy or early childhood, and permanently affects muscle control and coordination. Affected people have increased muscle tone which leads to spasticity (stiff or tight muscles and exaggerated reflexes) in the legs. The arm muscles are generally less affected or not affected at all. Other signs and symptoms may include delayed motor or movement milestones (i.e. rolling over, sitting, standing); walking on toes; and a "scissored" gait (style of walking).[1][2] As with other types of cerebral palsy, spastic diplegia is usually caused by brain damage, which generally happens before, during, or shortly after birth. Babies born prematurely and with low birth weight are at a higher risk of developing cerebral palsy. The exact cause is often unknown; however, the condition has been associated with genetic abnormalities; congenital brain malformations; maternal infections or fevers; and/or injury before, during or shortly after birth.[1][3][4] There is no cure, and treatment options vary depending on the signs and symptoms present in each person and the severity of the condition, and may include physical, occupational and speech therapy, medication and surgery.[1][5][6] Last updated: 8/7/2018 See the article here: Spastic … Continue reading →

Cerebral palsy (CP) is used as a blanket term to cover nine forms of muscle and movement difficulties caused by brain damage or malformations in the brain structure. The disabilities caused by CP range from so mild that they are hardly noticeable to severe. Hypotonic cerebral palsy is a form of the disorder marked by floppy (overly relaxed) muscles; hypotonic CP is rarer than the spastic forms of the disorder. Hypotonia means less muscle tone. It can be caused by several factors: cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, Downs syndrome, myotonic dystrophy, Tav-Sachs disease, and Prader-Willi syndrome. Hypotonic cerebral palsy is hypotonia which is caused by brain damage or brain malformation; it is generally congenital (present at birth), but an injury shortly after birth can also cause it. People with hypotonic cerebral palsy have noticeably floppy muscles and no control of their head. The arms and legs hang down like a rag doll. Joints may be lax. Reflexes may be poor, and walking is usually difficult. The condition causes posture problems and may cause breathing and swallowing difficulties. Speech may also be difficult, although intelligence is usually unaffected. Like other categories of CP, hypotonic cerebral palsy is caused by brain damage or … Continue reading →