Transcript Cerebral Palsy

What is Cerebral Palsy?
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Group of disorders affecting body
movement and muscular disorders.
Cerebral Palsy
What is Cerebral Palsy?
Why does Cerebral Palsy (CP) occur?
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Damage to the brain during
pregnancy may cause Cerebral
Palsy.
http://www.ofcp.on.ca/aboutcp.htm
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What are the symptoms of CP?
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CP interferes with messages b/n
brain and body
Effects vary with individual
Mildest: slight awkwardness
Severest: Virtually no muscle
control
Brain Damage
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Depending on which areas of the
brain have been damaged, one or
more of the following may occur:
Muscle tightness or spasms
Involuntary movement
Difficulty with "gross motor skills" such
as walking or running
Difficulty with "fine motor skills" such as
writing or doing up buttons
Difficulty in perception and sensation
Associated Problems
The above effects may cause
associated problems such as:
1. Feeding
2. Poor bladder control
3. Breathing problems
4. Pressure sores
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Associated Problems cont.
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The brain damage may lead to:
Seizures
Learning Disabilities
Developmental Delays
Important to Remember that…
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Affected limbs are not paralyzed
and can feel pain, heat, cold and
pressure
Physical disability is no indication of
intellectual disability.
C.P. is not a degenerative condition,
damage to the brain is a one time
occurrence so it will not get worse.
Important to remember that…
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People with C.P. have a normal life
span.
Is not progressive, the effects of CP
may change over time:
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Some may improve
Some may get worse
Medically it is important to remember…
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Is not contagious
Is not hereditary
Is not life threatening
Types of C.P.
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Classified by the number of limbs
involved:
Quadriplegia
Diplegia
Hemiplegia
Triplegia
Monoplegia
Classification by Movement Disorders
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Spastic: Muscles are tight and stiff
Athetoid: Involuntary movements,
constantly in motion
Ataxic: Least common form.
Disturbed sense of balance.
Spastic
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Most common type, occurs 70-80%
of all cases.
Spastic Hemiplegia
Spastic Diplegia
Spastic Quadriplegia
Spastic Hemiplegia
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One side is affected
Injury to left side of brain affects
right side of body and vice versa.
Spastic Diplegia
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Lower extremities are affected
Most people with Spastic Diplegia
eventually walk.
Toe walking and flexed knees are
common.
Hip dislocations and crossed eyes
are common
Often nearsighted
Intelligence is unaffected
Spastic Quadriplegia
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Whole body affected
Often have hemiparetic tremors
(shaking that affects the limbs on
one side of the body)
Often have fluid buildup
Tubes are usually inserted into body
to drain excess fluids
Athetoid
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Mixed muscle tone
Trouble holding themselves in an
upright position.
Takes a lot of concentration to get
hand to certain spot eg. Touching
nose
Ataxic
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Least common type of C.P.
Some individuals have tremors.
Motor skills are affected
Common to have visual and/or
auditory problems.
Living with Cerebral Palsy
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Coping with Disabilities and
Handicaps
Is not life threatening
Treatment of C.P.
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No cure
The earlier the treatment the better
Treatments may include one or
more of the following:
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Physical therapy, occupational therapy,
speech therapy, drugs to control
seizures, alleviate pain, or relax muscle
spasms, braces on feet, standing frame
Physical Therapy Treatment
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Designed to encourage the patient
to build strength.
Life long physical therapy is
necessary to build muscle tone
Occupational Therapy
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Helps adults maximize their function
in an attempt to live as
independently as possible
Orthotic are often prescribed
Speech Therapy
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Helps to control the muscles of the
mouth and the jaw
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This affects not only speech but also
breathing, biting, chew and swallowing.
Starts before child begins school
Chord Therapy
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