Understanding Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy: Overview and Symptoms

• Cerebral palsy is a group of permanent movement and posture development disorders attributed to non-progressive disturbances in the developing fetal or infant brain.
• The condition is characterized by abnormal muscle tone, reflexes, and motor development, leading to difficulties with movement, posture, thinking, learning, feeling, communication, and behavior.
• Muscle contractions are commonly thought to arise from overactivation, and the neurological lesion is primary and permanent, while orthopedic manifestations are secondary and progressive.
• The condition can cause a range of orthopedic manifestations, including bone and joint deformities, gait abnormalities, and joint contractures.
• While most individuals with cerebral palsy have problems with increased muscle tone, some have normal or low muscle tone, which can be due to spasticity or dystonia.
• Symptoms may appear or change as a child gets older, with developmental stage at 6 to 9 months being a critical period for the emergence of symptoms.
• Drooling, lower urinary tract symptoms, and sensory processing issues are common among children with cerebral palsy, with potential impacts on social rejection, speaking, and physical health.
• Children with cerebral palsy are at risk of experiencing birth defects such as spinal curvature, a small jawbone, or a small head.
• Diagnosis is based on the child's development over time, and blood tests and medical imaging may be used to rule out other possible causes.
• Cerebral palsy is the most common movement disorder in children, occurring in about 2.1 per 1,000 live births, and has been documented throughout history.
• While there is no known cure for cerebral palsy, supportive treatments, medication, surgery, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy may help many individuals.
• Some causes of cerebral palsy are preventable through efforts to prevent head injuries in children and through immunization of the mother.

Explore the characteristics and impact of Cerebral Palsy, a group of disorders affecting movement and posture, particularly in childhood. Learn about the associated impaired movement, reflexes, and muscle control.