palsy

CEREBRAL BRAIN
PALSY WEAKNESS, PARALYSIS OR LACK OF MUSCLE CONTROL.
CEREBRAL PALSY (CP) IS A PERMANENT PHYSICAL CONDITION THAT AFFECTS MOVEMENT. ITS EFFECT CAN BE AS
MILD AS JUST A WEAKNESS IN ONE HAND RANGING TO ALMOST COMPLETE LACK OF MOVEMENT.

Signs & Symptoms

While the central feature of CP is a disorder with movement, difficulties with thinking,
learning, feeling, communication and behavior often occur along with cerebral palsy.

Of those with CP,

28% have epilepsy,
58% have difficulties with
communication,
at least 42% have problems with their
vision,
and 2356% have learning disabilities.

Babies born with

severe CP often have
an irregular posture;
their bodies may be
either very floppy or
very stiff. Birth defects,
such as spinal
curvature, a small
jawbone, or a small
head sometimes occur
along with CP.
Symptoms may appear
or change as a child
gets older.

Classically, CP becomes evident when the baby reaches the

developmental stage at 6 12 to 9 months and is starting to mobilize,
where preferential use of limbs, asymmetry, or gross motor developmental
delay is seen.

Resulting conditions can includeseizures,epilepsy,

apraxia,dysarthriaor other communication disorders,
eating problems, sensory impairments,
intellectual disability,learning disabilities,
urinary incontinence,fecal incontinence, and/or
behavioral disorders.

Causes
Cerebral palsy is due to damage occurring to the developing brain. This damage
can occur during pregnancy, delivery, the first month of life, or less commonly
in early childhood. Structural problems in the brain are seen in 80% of cases,
most commonly within the white matter. More than three quarters of cases are
believed to result from issues that occur during pregnancy.
While in certain cases there is no identifiable cause, typical causes include
problems in intrauterine development (e.g. exposure to radiation, infection),
hypoxia of the brain, and birth trauma during labor and delivery, and
complications around birth or during childhood.

Treatment for cerebral palsy

Although cerebral palsy is a
lifelong disability, there are
many interventions that can
help reduce its impact on
the body and the
individuals quality of life.
An intervention is a service
that aims to improve the
condition of cerebral palsy
and the day-to-day
experience of the person
living with it.

Can cerebral palsy

be prevented or
cured?

At present, there is no way to totally prevent or

cure cerebral palsy.
Two interventions are now being used to reduce
the risk or severity of cerebral palsy:
Magnesium Sulphate is given to pregnant
mothers when they are at risk of very preterm
birth. This can help protect babies from the
brain injury that leads to cerebral palsy.
Cooling Cap Newborn babies who have
suffered a brain injury due to lack of oxygen
before birth (hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy)
may be treated with a special cooling cap which
aims to reduce the impact of the brain injury.

Medication

Interventions for
movement issues

Medical specialists may prescribe medications that assist

movement issues. Some medications are taken orally (e.g.
diazepam) and others are injected or delivered through surgically
implanted pumps (e.g. Baclofen). Many children with cerebral
palsy benefit from Botulinum toxin type A injections into muscles
affected by spasticity. This intervention is used from about two
years of age and is most effective when used in conjunction with
therapy.
Surgical procedures
Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) is a neurosurgical procedure
that is used in a small percentage of children with cerebral palsy
to permanently reduce spasticity in their legs.
Physiotherapy and occupational therapy
Physiotherapists and occupational therapists focus on
encouraging a persons day-to-day movement skills such as
sitting, walking, playing, dressing and toileting. They will use a
range of specialist interventions such as movement training and
equipment, e.g. walking frames, wheelchairs, supportive seating,
footwear and orthotics.