What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to move and maintain balance and posture. Cerebral palsy is the most common movement disorder in children. Brain refers to the meaning related to the brain. Paralysis refers to muscle weakness or problems with their use. Cerebral palsy is caused by abnormal brain development, or damage to the developing brain that affects its ability to control muscles.
Symptoms of cerebral palsy vary from person to person. People with severe cerebral palsy may need special walking equipment or may not be able to walk at all and may need lifelong care. On the other hand, a person with mild cerebral palsy may walk somewhat clumsily but does not require any special assistance. Cerebral palsy does not get worse over time, but the exact symptoms can change throughout life.
All people with cerebral palsy have movement and posture problems. Many of them also suffer from related illnesses, such as intellectual disability. seizures; Vision, hearing and speech problems. Changes to the spine (e.g. scoliosis). or joint problems (e.g. cramps).
 

Types of cerebral palsy

Doctors classify cerebral palsy based on the main type of movement disorder. Depending on the area of the brain affected, one or more of the following movement disorders may occur:
• Muscle stiffness (spasticity)
Uncontrollable movements (dyskinesia)
• Decreased balance and coordination (ataxia)

There are 4 main types of CP:

Spastic cerebral palsy:

The most common form of cerebral palsy is spastic cerebral palsy. About 80% of people with cerebral palsy have spastic cerebral palsy.
Increased muscle tone in patients with spastic cerebral palsy. This means his muscles are stiff, which can lead to inappropriate movements. Spastic cerebral palsy is usually described in terms of the part of the body that is affected.
• Paresis/spastic paralysis: In spastic paraysis, muscle stiffness occurs primarily in the legs, but the arms are less affected or not affected at all. People with SCI may have difficulty walking because muscles in the hips and legs tighten, causing the legs to stick together, bend inward, and cross the knees (also called scissors).
• Hemiplegia/spastic hemiplegia: This type of cerebral palsy affects only one side of the body. The arms are usually more affected than the legs.
• Quadriplegia/Spastic Quadriplegia: Spastic quadriplegia is the most severe form of spastic cerebral palsy and affects all the limbs, trunk and face. People with spastic quadriplegia are often unable to walk and often have other developmental disabilities, such as intellectual disability. Seizures or problems with seeing, hearing, or speaking.

Dystonic cerebral palsy (also includes athetoid palsy, choroidal palsy, and dystonic cerebral palsy)
People with paralytic cerebral palsy have difficulty controlling movement of their hands, arms, feet, and legs, making it difficult to sit or walk. The movement is uncontrolled and can be slow shaking or rapid twitching. Sometimes the face and tongue are affected, making sucking, swallowing, and speaking difficult. Muscle tone in people with cerebral palsy varies from day to day and throughout the day (from very tight to very relaxed).

Cerebral palsy ataxia:

People with ataxic cerebral palsy have problems in balance and coordination. May be unsteady when walking. Fast movements and actions that require a high level of control, such as writing, can be difficult. It can be difficult to control your hand or arm when reaching for something.

Mixed cerebral palsy:

Some people have more than one symptom of cerebral palsy. The most common form of mixed cerebral palsy is spastic cerebral palsy.

First sign:

Because there are so many types and degrees of disability, the symptoms of cerebral palsy vary greatly. The main symptom of cerebral palsy in children is a delay in achieving motor or motor milestones (e.g., rolling over, sitting, standing, and walking). Here are some other signs that you may have cerebral palsy. It's important to note that these symptoms can also occur in children without cerebral palsy.

Suitable for children under 6 months

• If you hold your baby on your back, your baby's head will fall back.
• It feels hard
• Feel flexible
• He seems to hyperextend his back and neck when you hold him and always acts as if he is moving away from you.
• His legs become stiff or cross when you hold him.
 
Suitable for children aged 6 months and over

• No movement in any direction
• The hands cannot be closed
• Difficulty covering the mouth
• Extend one hand and make a fist with the other hand.
Suitable for children aged 10 months and over
• When crawling, lose balance, push with one hand and foot and pull with the other hand and foot.
• Run quickly on your butt or jump to your knees, but do not get on all fours.
Tell your child's doctor or nurse if you notice any of these signs.

Tests and diagnosis

Early diagnosis of cerebral palsy is important for the health of children and their families. Diagnosing cerebral palsy can require several steps.

Growth monitoring

Developmental monitoring (also called tracking) is the monitoring of a child's growth and development over time. If monitoring raises concerns about your child's growth, a growth test should be performed as soon as possible.

Developmental screening

Developmental screening consists of simple tests to find out whether your child has certain developmental delays, such as motor delay or motor delay. If the results of the screening test are concerning, your doctor will order a medical and developmental evaluation.

Medical and developmental assessment

The purpose of a developmental assessment is to diagnose specific types of disorders that affect children.

Treatment and Intervention Services

There is no cure for cerebral palsy, but treatment can improve the lives of people with the disorder. It is important to begin a treatment plan as soon as possible.
When cerebral palsy is diagnosed, a team of medical professionals works with the child and family to develop a plan to help the child reach their full potential. Common treatments include medication. Surgery; Braces. Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy. There is no single treatment that works for all children with cerebral palsy. Before deciding on a treatment plan, it is important to speak with your child's doctor to understand all of the risks and benefits.

Intervention Services

Early intervention and school-age services are available through our state's special education law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Part C of IDEA covers early intervention services (under 36 months), and Part B covers services for school-aged children (ages 3 to 21). Even if your child has not been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, he or she may be eligible for IDEA services.

Causes and risk factors

Cerebral palsy is caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain that affects a child's ability to control muscles. There are many possible causes of abnormal growth or damage. Cerebral palsy is believed to be caused primarily by lack of oxygen during birth. Scientists now believe that this leads to cerebral palsy in a few cases.
The abnormal brain development and damage that leads to cerebral palsy can occur before birth, during birth, and in the first months or years of life when the brain is still developing. Cerebral palsy that occurs before or during birth and is associated with abnormal development or damage to the brain is called congenital cerebral palsy. Most cases of cerebral palsy (85 to 90 percent) are congenital. In many cases the exact cause is unclear. A small portion of cerebral palsy is caused by abnormal brain development or damage

Treatment:

There is no definitive treatment for these people. But these patients should be under the supervision of a specialist doctor and rehabilitation group. Physiotherapy plays an important role in these patients. Physiotherapist facilitates the neuromuscular path of the patient by using devices and therapeutic techniques for cerebral palsy patients, and by using therapeutic movements and therapeutic massages and by prescribing movement pattern exercises and training, he helps the patient to improve his natural movement abilities. By working on each muscle, the physiotherapist removes the deformities and helps the patient to abandon his abnormal movement habits.