Cerebral Palsy (CP)

Waht is Cerebral palsy (CP)?
CP it’s a term that refers to a group of problems with movement that result from abnormalities in brain development or brain damage in the first year of life. Very important feature of the condition is that it is not progressive, meaning that conditions where the brain damage continues to get worse are not included under CP. However, as all parents and professionals who treat CP know, the movement problems suffered by the child certainly change with time, growth and development. Problems with movement are the feature of CP. In addition these children often have other problems, including intellectual disability (from mild to very severe) and problems with sensation (including vision etc). It is believed that CP affects about one in every 500 live births.

When parents are first told that their child has CP, one of their first concerns is understanding how the CP will evolve in the future – its severity, how bad things will become, and particularly whether their child will ever walk. Unfortunately, health professionals have very limited information to base answers upon for any individual child. The course of CP is highly individual and variable.

Types of Cerebral Palsy 

1. Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common type of cerebral palsy and accounts for approximately half of all cerebral palsy cases. It is characterized by stiff, contracted muscles and sometimes, by paralysis. Patient has stiff, jerky movements and often difficulty letting go of something in his hand.

There are five types of spastic cerebral palsy:

• Diplegia : affects both arms or both legs
• Hemiplegia : affects limbs on one side of the body
• Quadriplegia : affects all limbs
• Monoplegia : affects only one limb. It is very rare.
• Triplegia : affects three limbs. It is very rare.

2. Ataxic Cerebral Palsy

Ataxic cerebral palsy occurs when the muscles are too weak. Patient appiers shaky and unsteady. Approximately 10 percent of cerebral palsy sufferers have ataxic cerebral palsy. The birth injury ataxic cerebral palsy affects balance, coordination, and depth perception. Afected typically walks unsteadily, has poor coordination, and difficulty honing fine motor skills.

3. Athetoid Cerebral Palsy

Athetoid cerebral palsy occurs when the muscles fluctuate between being too tight and too weak. Patient has involuntary movement in the face and arms, and difficulty holding them in an upright position. Some afected also experience speech problems, drooling, and other difficulty in controlling the facial muscles. Approximately 20 percent of all cerebral palsy sufferers have athetoid cerebral palsy.

If the child's athetoid cerebral palsy was caused by a birth mistake, it may be a cerebral palsy case.

4. Mixed Cerebral Palsy

Mixed cerebral palsy occurs when the muscles are affected in a combination of any of the types listed above. Approximately 20 percent of all cerebral palsy sufferers have mixed cerebral palsy.