Spastic Cerebral Palsy, Cerebral Palsy Treatment – Boy …

A little boy with cerebral palsy (CP) took his first steps at 6 years of age after having surgery to lengthen his Achilles tendons. Jack McNaughton and his parents, Stacy and Graham, traveled from the UK to Missouri so Jack could have the surgery. Jack has numerous muscle problems caused by cerebral palsy, including contractures. A contracture is a permanent shortening of a muscle that results in the loss of normal joint movement. Jack has spastic cerebral palsy, and his spastic muscles do not grow normally. The abnormal growth and lack of proper use has caused Jack to have the contractures. Jacks Achilles tendons were so short that he couldnt put his foot flat on the floor to walk. His Achilles problem alone caused Jack to use twice as much energy to move around. The contractures, along with other issues caused by the spastic cerebral palsy, have made it necessary for Jack to use a walker and crutches to move around.

With aggressive physical therapy and the Achilles lengthening surgery, Stacy and Graham hope their son will learn to walk unaided. They have been working with their eager little boy, and a video of Jack taking his first steps has been shared on social media by thousands of people around the world. It is hard to miss the look of sheer excitement on Jacks face as he tries to take his first steps since the surgery.

Watch the video of Jack taking his first steps.

Although the brain injury that causes spastic cerebral palsy does not get worse over time, a childs muscle, bone, joint and tendon problems can worsen and become very painful.

Normally, muscles coordinate in pairs; when one muscle contracts, the other relaxes. This allows the muscles to do what the child wants them to do. When a child has spastic cerebral palsy, there is dysfunction in brain to nerve to muscle communication, which causes muscles to work against each other. This leads to a tightening or shortening of the joint. When the muscle fibers become short, the joints nearby can end up and remain in a fixed position. This can further decrease a childs ability to move around. Indeed, without proper therapy and treatment, spastic muscles can cause damage to the childs body: muscles, bones, joints and tendons can get shorter and become painful.

The sooner therapy and treatment for spastic cerebral palsy begins, the better. However, many children arent diagnosed with CP until they are 5 or 6 years old, when certain developmental milestones are missed.

Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common type of CP, affecting about 80% of all people with the condition. Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the motor control centers of the developing brain. Thus, any injury that damages this part of the brain before a child is approximately 3 years old can cause CP. Many times, cerebral palsy is caused by a brain injury that occurs during or near the time of delivery. Head trauma, brain bleeds, infection and a lack of oxygen to the babys brain can cause CP. Listed below are some complications that, if mismanaged, can cause brain injury and cerebral palsy in a child.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy

Umbilical cord problems, such as a prolapsed umbilical cord, the cord being wrapped around the babys neck (nuchal cord), a short umbilical cord, and the cord being in a true knot. The umbilical cord vein is the final pathway of oxygen-rich blood traveling to the baby from the mother. Problems with the cord can cause the baby to be partially or completely cut off from her supply of oxygen-rich blood.

Placental abruption. This is when the placental tears away from the uterus (womb). Oxygen-rich blood traveling from the mother to the baby moves through vessels in the womb and placental and then into the umbilical cord to be transported to the baby. Problems with the uterus or placenta can significantly decrease the amount of blood traveling from the mother to the baby. In some cases, such as when there is a complete placental abruption, the baby may not be able to receive any oxygen-rich blood from the mother.

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Spastic Cerebral Palsy, Cerebral Palsy Treatment - Boy ...