Cerebral Palsy is a group of disorders that can affect your ability to move and maintain your balance and posture. It is the most common motor disability in childhood. Cerebral Palsy is caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain that affects the ability to control their muscles. The symptoms of cerebral palsy vary from person to person. 

There are three types of cerebral palsy depending on which areas of the brain are affected. The first type is spastic cerebral palsy, which affect about 80% of people with CP. Those with spastic CP have stiff muscles and as a result their movements can be different than usual. Spastic CP can affect just your legs, one side of your body, or all four limbs. The second type is Dyskinetic CP. Those with dyskinetic CP have problems with controlling the movement of their extremities and it makes it difficult for them to sit and walk. Movements can be slow or rapid/jerky. At times, the face and tongue can be affected making it difficult to swallow, talk or suck. These symptoms can vary from day to day or throughout the day. The third type is ataxic CP. These patients will have problems with balance and coordination and may be unsteady when they walk. They tend to have difficulty with quick movements or movements that need control like writing. There can also be mixes of all three of these types.

Generally speaking, all patients with CP have problems to some degree with movement and posture. Those with severe CP may require special equipment to assist them when walking or may not be able to walk at all. Cerebral palsy does not get worse over time, but the exact symptoms can change over a person’s lifetime. Common conditions that can occur among patients with CP are seizures, problems with vision, hearing, or speech; changes in their spine like the development of scoliosis or joint contractures (this is where joints become “frozen” in a particular position from lack of movement. There is no cure for CP but treatment with a multidisciplinary team can improve quality of life for those with CP.

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About The Medical Report Podcast
Medical professionals sharing their knowledge to keep the community informed. Join us as we talk about health disorders and social topics surrounding healthcare.