LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Cerebral Palsy (Disabled): Spastic Cerebral Palsy
built 623 days ago
Spastic Cerebral Palsy, the most common form of CP, causes the muscles to be tense, rigid and movements are slow and difficult. This can be misinterpreted as cognitive delay due to difficulty of communication. Individuals with cerebral palsy can have learning difficulties, but sometimes it is the sheer magnitude of problems caused by the underlying brain injury that prevents the individual from expressing what cognitive abilities they do possess.[34]
Source:
Cerebral palsy may be classified by the type of movement problem (such as spastic or athetoid cerebral palsy) or by the body parts involved (hemiplegia, diplegia, and quadriplegia). Spasticity refers to the inability of a muscle to relax, while athetosis refers to an inability to control the movement of a muscle. Infants who at first are hypotonic wherein they are very floppy may later develop spasticity. Hemiplegia is cerebral palsy that involves one arm and one leg on the same side of the body, whereas with diplegia the primary involvement is both legs. Quadriplegia refers to a pattern involving all four extremities as well as trunk and neck muscles. Another frequently used classification is ataxia, which refers to balance and coordination problems.
Source:
Cerebral palsy is a general term that describes a group of conditions that cause movement problems. The most common type is spastic cerebral palsy where the muscles are stiff and rigid in one or more limbs. The underlying problem is damage or faulty development in a part of the brain which usually occurs sometime before birth. Cerebral palsy ranges from mild to severe. In some cases there are associated problems such as learning difficulties and epilepsy. The main aim of treatment is to, as far as possible, prevent or limit the contractures and limb deformities that can occur, and to minimise any disability.
Source:
Cerebral palsy is often caused by a temporary lack of oxygen to the brain. Associated factors during pregnancy include German measles, radiation exposure, or maternal diabetes. Causes during birth include premature delivery, a detached placenta, long labor, breech birth, and multiple births. Causes during infancy include brain infections, head trauma, and near drowning. There are three major types of cerebral palsy. Approximately seven out of ten patients have the spastic form.
Source:
Cerebral palsy can range in severity from mild to severe. For example, a person with mild spastic hemiplegia is likely to be fully mobile, active, and independent but have a slightly abnormal gait (walking movement). He or she may have some difficulty in using one hand and one foot may drop or drag. At the other extreme, someone with severe quadriplegia will be wheelchair bound and need help with daily living tasks. Many people are in between these two extremes. Every case is different, and every case needs fully assessing by a specialist team.
Source:
This fact sheet on cerebral palsy is offered in both English and Spanish. First, it provides a definition and considers various causes (e.g., an insufficient amount of oxygen reaching the fetal or newborn brain). The fact sheet then offers incidence figures and explains characteristics of the three main types of cerebral palsy: spastic, athetoid, and ataxic. It briefly discusses developmental, educational, and employment implications. These include the value of early identification and intervention.
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Spastic Cerebral Palsy