What is Cerebral Palsy?  Group of disorders affecting body movement and muscular disorders.

Cerebral Palsy What is Cerebral Palsy?

Why does Cerebral Palsy (CP) occur?  Damage to the brain during pregnancy may cause Cerebral Palsy.  l l

What are the symptoms of CP?  CP interferes with messages b/n brain and body  Effects vary with individual  Mildest: slight awkwardness  Severest: Virtually no muscle control

Brain Damage  Depending on which areas of the brain have been damaged, one or more of the following may occur: 1. Muscle tightness or spasms 2. Involuntary movement 3. Difficulty with "gross motor skills" such as walking or running 4. Difficulty with "fine motor skills" such as writing or doing up buttons 5. 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

Associated Problems cont.  The brain damage may lead to: 1. Seizures 2. Learning Disabilities 3. Developmental Delays

Important to Remember that…  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…  People with C.P. have a normal life span.  Is not progressive, the effects of CP may change over time: Some may improve Some may get worse

Medically it is important to remember… 1. Is not contagious 2. Is not hereditary 3. Is not life threatening

Types of C.P.  Classified by the number of limbs involved: 1. Quadriplegia 2. Diplegia 3. Hemiplegia 4. Triplegia 5. Monoplegia

Classification by Movement Disorders  Spastic: Muscles are tight and stiff  Athetoid: Involuntary movements, constantly in motion  Ataxic: Least common form. Disturbed sense of balance.

Spastic  Most common type, occurs 70-80% of all cases.  Spastic Hemiplegia  Spastic Diplegia  Spastic Quadriplegia

Spastic Hemiplegia  One side is affected  Injury to left side of brain affects right side of body and vice versa.

Spastic Diplegia  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  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  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  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  Coping with Disabilities and Handicaps  Is not life threatening

Treatment of C.P.  No cure  The earlier the treatment the better  Treatments may include one or more of the following: Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, drugs to control seizures, alleviate pain, or relax muscle spasms, braces on feet, standing frame

Physical Therapy Treatment  Designed to encourage the patient to build strength.  Life long physical therapy is necessary to build muscle tone

Occupational Therapy  Helps adults maximize their function in an attempt to live as independently as possible  Orthotic are often prescribed

Speech Therapy  Helps to control the muscles of the mouth and the jaw This affects not only speech but also breathing, biting, chew and swallowing.  Starts before child begins school

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