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About Cerebral Palsy

Living with cerebral palsy poses difficult physical challenges. One of these challenges is severe spasticity, which can get in the way of daily activities. Fortunately, there is a therapy from Medtronic that can minimize severe spasticity in some individuals.

Definition

Cerebral palsy is a movement and posture disorder resulting from an injury or defect to the developing brain (brain damage).

Causes

Cerebral palsy can be caused by brain injury during intrauterine life or at birth. It can also be acquired after birth. In this case, cerebral palsy is usually caused by brain damage in the first few months or years of life.

Risk Factors

Several risk factors can increase the likelihood of cerebral palsy. However, it's important to know that these risk factors will not necessarily result in the disease.

These risk factors are usually present:

• During fetal development before, during, or shortly after birth
• During infancy

Risk factors for cerebral palsy include:¹

• Premature birth
• Low birth weight
• Poor intrauterine nutrition
• Lack of growth factors during intrauterine life
• RH or A-B-O blood type incompatibility between mother and infant
• Infection of the mother with German measles or other viral diseases in early pregnancy
• Bacterial infection of the mother, fetus or infant that directly or indirectly attacks the infant's central nervous system
• Prolonged loss of oxygen during birth
• Severe jaundice shortly after birth

Symptoms

Early signs of cerebral palsy usually appear before a child is 18 months old. Infants with cerebral palsy are frequently slow to reach developmental milestones, such as learning to roll over, sit, crawl, smile, or walk. Parents are often the first to suspect that their infant is not developing motor skills normally.¹

• Lack of muscle coordination when performing voluntary movements (ataxia)
• Stiff muscles and exaggerated reflexes (spasticity)
• Asymmetrical walking gait, with one foot or leg dragging
• Variations in muscle tone, from too stiff to too floppy
• Excessive drooling or difficulties swallowing, sucking or speaking
• Tremors
• Difficulty with precise motions, such as writing or buttoning a shirt

Cerebral palsy ranges from mild to severe. In some cases, neurological disorders (such as mental retardation or seizures) also occur in children with cerebral palsy.²

Diagnosis

Cerebral palsy is usually diagnosed early in life. Your doctor will review your medical and family history and perform a physical evaluation. In addition to checking for the typical symptoms, the doctor may perform specialized tests to help diagnose your condition. Your doctor can help distinguish normal variation in development resulting from a developmental disorder.

About Spasticity Due to Cerebral Palsy

Spasticity is caused by damage or injury to the part of the central nervous system (the brain or spinal cord) that controls voluntary movement. This damage disrupts important signals between the nervous system and muscles, creating an imbalance that increases muscle activity or spasms.

Spasticity can make one's movement, posture, and balance difficult. It may affect your ability to move one or more of your limbs, or to move one side of your body. Sometimes spasticity is so severe that it gets in the way of daily activities, sleep patterns, and caregiving. In certain situations, this loss of control can be dangerous for the individual.

References

1. UCP Research and Educational Foundation. Cerebral Palsy Facts and Figures. Available at: www.ucp.org. Accessed May 4, 2010.
2. Mayo Clinic. Cerebral Palsy Complications. Available at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cerebral-palsy/DS00302/DSECTION=complications. Accessed October 1, 2010.

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• About Brain Injury
• About Cerebral Palsy
• About Multiple Sclerosis
• About Spinal Cord Injury
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