What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a group of non-progressive neurological disorders that impacts the child’s posture, sense of balance, mobility, muscle strength, and gait.
It is caused by abnormal brain development or irreparable damage to the immature and developing brain (during pregnancy or shortly after birth).
The distinguishing features
Impaired gait and uncoordinated movement are the main features that set CP apart from other neurological disorders.
CP is a non-degenerative disorder. Its symptoms do not worsen with time.
Nevertheless, early diagnosis and intervention can go a long way in the child leading a better and fuller life. CP can be detected as early as a few months after birth or even at 4 years of age.
Types of Cerebral Palsy
CP impairs the brain’s ability to move muscle. This leads to flaccid muscles, poor motor coordination, impaired reflexes, balance issues, incorrect posture, involuntary movements, etc. The degree of mobility challenges depends on the type of CP your child has been diagnosed with. The six types of CP are: ● Spastic Cerebral Palsy ● Dystonic Cerebral Palsy ● Hypotonic Cerebral Palsy ● Athetoid Cerebral Palsy ● Ataxic Cerebral Palsy ● Mixed Cerebral Palsy
Types of Cerebral Palsy
SPASTIC CEREBRAL PALSY is the most most common type of CP. It occurs due to damage in the brain’s motor cortex. Its characteristics include:
● Trouble lifting one’s head as a baby
● Tightened muscles due to increased muscle tone
● Rigidity and stiffness in the limbs
● Exaggerated movements
● Difficulties with breathing, speaking, and swallowing
● Hoarse voice
● Scoliosis (dislocation of the spine)
● Limb and joint deformities
● Difficulty with fine motor skills
● Scissored gait
● Drooling
Types of Cerebral Palsy
DYSTONIC CEREBRAL PALSY is a subtype which occurs due to damage to the basal ganglia, the centre for learning and motor function. Dystonic CP is further divided into:
- Focal dystonia: one side of the body is impacted
- Generalised dystonia: entire (or almost entire) body is affected
- Hermidystonia: impacts one arm and corresponding leg
- Cervical dystonia: affects shoulder, neck, and head
- Oromandibular dystonia: affects mouth, tongue, and jaw
Types of Cerebral Palsy
Dystonic CP has the following characteristics:
● Movements that alternate between fast and slow ● Involuntary movements that get worse if the child tries to control them ● Gait problems ● Painful movements and contractions ● Clumsiness ● Speech and swallowing difficulties ● Foot cramps ● Drooling ● Uncontrollable blinking ● Fatigue due to uncontrollable movements
Types of Cerebral Palsy
is
and
include: ● Unusually flexible joints and ligaments ● Excess muscle flexibility ● Poor trunk stability ● Unusually wide gait ● Poor head control ● Clumsiness ● Slow reflexes ● Exhaustion ● Chewing and swallowing difficulties ● Making grunting, breathy noises ● Learning disabilities ● Cognitive delays
HYPOTONIC CEREBRAL PALSY
a rare variant of CP
accounts for only 2.6% of all the cases. The damage to the cerebellum severely affects muscle tone, leading to overly flaccid and floppy muscles. Its characteristics
Types of Cerebral Palsy
ATHETOID CEREBRAL PALSY affects the child’s muscle causing them to fluctuate between hypotonia and hypertonia
. The damage to the basal ganglia and/or cerebellum impacts is charactertised by:
● Involuntary movements in the legs, arms, and hands
● Slow writhing movements that are repetitive and rhythmic
● Jerky, shaky movements
● Twisting of the torso
● Abnormal posture
● Grimacing or drooling
● Poor balance and coordination
Types of Cerebral Palsy
ATAXIC CEREBRAL PALSY is a rare non-spastic variation of CP. It occurs due to damage to the cerebellum. It is characterised by:
● Low muscle tone
● Involuntary movements that can be slow, fast, rhythmic, repetitive, or non-repetitive
● Exaggerated movements when the patient attempts to move voluntarily
● Poor balance and posture
● Unsteady gait
● Poor control over eye movements and depth perception
● Poor hand-eye coordination
● Impaired fine motor skills like handwriting
Types of Cerebral Palsy
MIXED CEREBRAL PALSY occurs when there is damage to more than one part of the brain, including the motor cortex, basal ganglia, cerebellum, and pyramidal tracts.
Patients with mixed CP can experience symptoms of more than one of the above 5 types of CP. The most common type is Spastic-Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy.
Mixed CP accounts for nearly 15.4% of all the CP cases. Its characteristics and symptoms depend on the types of CP - damage to the brain and its severity.
Treatment and care
Founded by India’s foremost neurologist, Dr Na’eem Sadiq, Plexus offers the best treatment for Cerebral Palsy through our rehabilitation program. This is an all-inclusive treatment plan that is based on your child’s symptoms, needs, and their ambitions. Our highly-trained specialists work with you and your child to design a custom rehabilitation plan that eases symptoms, maximises daily independence, and enhances quality of life.
Treatment for CP includes:
Developmental
Pre-academic
Stem
Physiotherapy | Occupational therapy | Speech and language therapy | Cognitive therapy
therapy | Reflex integration therapy | Early intervention therapy
Postural training | Gait training | Activities for daily living training
skills training | Hand function training | Corrective splinting | Mobility aids
Mirror therapy | Contracture release therapy | Constraint-induced movement therapy
cell therapy | Medication and/or surgery