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Cerebral Palsy refers to a group of neurological disorders caused by damage or some abnormality in the developing brain that affect:<br>
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Understanding Cerebral Palsy Cerebral Palsy refers to a group of neurological disorders caused by damage or some abnormality in the developing brain that affect: • Movement • Muscle tone • Coordination • Overall motor skills It is usually diagnosed by the time a child is 3 years old, and is a lifelong non-progressive condition that may also affect visual and sensory abilities. While Cerebral Palsy can make normal function hard, treatment options such as Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Behavioral Therapy, and Speech Therapy can help greatly.
Early signs of Cerebral Palsy Cerebral Palsy occurs because of damage to the brain at birth or soon after. Most doctors will not give a conclusive diagnosis until your child is 2 or 3 years old, but parents can keep an eye out for certain signs that merit a check-up. Some early symptoms include: • Poor coordination • Deformities in the bones and/or joints • Difficulty in feeding • Retention of primitive reflexes past the appropriate age • Floppiness or unusual stiffness in the limbs • Reduced muscle mass If your child displays any or all of these symptoms, it helps to do a developmental screening immediately.
Types of Cerebral Palsy Depending on part of the brain that is affected, there are 4 main types of CP. • Spastic Cerebral Palsy: The most common type that accounts for about 80% of cases. It can manifest in the entire body or just on one side. Patients experience: • Muscle stiffness • Exaggerated reflexes • Muscle weakness • Abnormal walking behaviors like scissoring • Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy: Such patients exhibit involuntary abnormal movements in the face and limbs. The movements may be stiff and jerky or slow and writhing, and affect the patient’s ability to sit, stand, walk, and perform daily tasks.
Types of Cerebral Palsy • Hypotonic Cerebral Palsy: This type of Cerebral Palsy leads to overly relaxed muscles, causing the limbs to appear floppy. In young children, this leads to trouble controlling the head and face muscles, which can cause difficulties with feeding, swallowing, and breathing. • Ataxic Cerebral Palsy: This type of Cerebral Palsy is characterized by clumsy or jerky movements. Patients will usually have trouble with walking and fine motor skills such as picking things up or holding something. • Mixed Cerebral Palsy: This refers to a combination of the above symptoms of two or more types. Usually, mixed CP involves symptoms of Spastic and Dyskinetic CP.
Classification of Cerebral Palsy by severity The Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) classifies CP into 5 levels based on the patient’s ability to move independently, and their reliance on mobility aids. • Level 1: The patient can walk without difficulty • Level 2: The patient can walk long distances but has trouble with running or jumping. They may need a wheelchair, or use a cane or leg brace when learning to walk • Level 3: The patient can stand without support and sit with only some support, but needs a cane, walker, or wheelchair to move around • Level 4: The patient can stand and walk with assistive devices and can navigate independently in a wheelchair. • Level 5: The patient needs support to sit, stand, and to control their head and neck. They can navigate independently in a motorized wheelchair. From regular Occupational Therapy, to the use of assistive devices, there are several ways to restore or improve functionality and ensure that the patient leads an active, fulfilling life.
