Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy is the result of a brain injury or a brain malformation affecting a person’s ability to move. It is a permanent life-long condition, but generally does not worsen over time. Individuals with Cerebral Palsy were most likely born with the condition, although some acquire it later.

Cerebral palsy affects people in different ways and can affect body movement, muscle control, muscle coordination, muscle tone, reflex, posture and balance.

Muscles can contract too much, too little, or all at the same time. Limbs can be stiff and forced into painful, awkward positions. Fluctuating muscle contractions can make limbs tremble or shake.

An individual with Cerebral Palsy will likely show signs of physical impairment. However, the type of movement dysfunction, the location and number of limbs involved, as well as the extent of impairment, will vary from one individual to another. It can affect arms, legs, and even the face; it can affect one limb, several, or all.

Balance, posture, and coordination can also be affected by Cerebral Palsy. Tasks such as walking, sitting, or tying shoes may be difficult for some, while others might have difficulty grasping objects.

Other complications, such as intellectual impairment, seizures, and vision or hearing impairment also commonly accompany Cerebral Palsy.

Some CP features

• increased muscle tone
• Control of the movements is problematic
• Coordination and balance disorders
• Slow
• Movements shoot beyond the target or do not reach it
• Movements cannot be dosed correctly
• Movements are stiff, angularly cramped, slow, jerky, shaky
• The muscle tension is either too high or too low
• epilepsy