Cerebral palsy

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Cerebral palsy is a condition of the nervous system that causes problems with movement and posture. It is caused by damage to the developing brain (either in the womb, during birth or up to about age three). Newborns with low birth weight and premature babies are more at risk.

It is not contagious or inherited. It’s also important to know that the brain damage that causes cerebral palsy is not progressive (it won’t get worse), but it is permanent.

The physical conditions associated with cerebral palsy are classified into two areas: movement and body. 

Movement

• Athetoid/dyskinetic: uncontrolled movements that often leads to erratic movements
• Ataxic: unsteady or shaky movement
• Spastic: stiff or tight muscles
• Mixed: a combination of any of these types

Body

• Hemiplegia: one side of the body is affected.
• Diplegia: all four limbs are affected, but the legs more than the arms.
• Quadriplegia: all four limbs are affected, and possibly the face and mouth also.

As an example, a child with spastic quadriplegia is unable to relax the muscles in all four limbs (and usually the trunk and neck as well).

Sometimes other disabilities occur along with cerebral palsy, including intellectual disabilities, seizures, sight or hearing impairments, and behavioural difficulties.

The following professionals can help: child health nurse, paediatrician, neurologist, orthopaedic surgeon, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, social worker, educational advisor, speech pathologist.

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