An Explanation Of Cerebral Palsy

A human’s brain controls everything that we do. And cerebral palsy can affect the way that we are able to perform tasks.

The human brain is divided into different parts that control the movement of, and the way that every muscle of the body acts. If there is damage to, or lack of development in, one of these areas of the brain, then this can result in cerebral palsy.

The word "Cerebral" means brain. The word "Palsy" can refer to weakness or paralysis or lack of muscle control. Hence the name cerebral palsy refers to a disorder of muscle control which results from damage or lack of development to a part of the brain.

The condition, named cerebral palsy, is used when the brain damage has occurred while the brain is still developing. Children who have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy can have difficulties such as weakness, stiffness, awkwardness, slowness, shakiness, and a hard time maintaining balance. These difficulties can range from mild to severe.

If the cerebral palsy is ‘mild’, the child may be slightly awkward in one arm or leg, and the difficulty may not be very easy to notice. In severe cerebral palsy, the child may have a lot of difficulties in trying to carry out everyday tasks and movements.

There are several different types of cerebral palsy:

Spastic cerebral palsy - the most diagnosed form of cerebral palsy. ‘Spastic’ means stiffness or tightness in the muscles. This happens due to the messages to the muscles getting relayed incorrectly from the damaged parts of the brain.

Normal muscle function involves groups of muscles that contract while the opposite groups of muscles relax in order to do the task. In patients with spastic cerebral palsy, both groups of muscles may contract at the same time, making the movement difficult.

Athetoid cerebral palsy – describes a type of cerebral palsy that includes uncontrolled movements. The lack of control is often noticeable when the patient starts to grasp a toy or perform another movement. Patients with athetoid cerebral palsy often have very weak muscles and have a hard time making muscles rigid.

Ataxic cerebral palsy - the least common type of cerebral palsy. The word ‘Ataxic’ unsteady shaky movements or tremor. Patients with ataxia have difficulty with balance.

Many patients do not have just one type of cerebral palsy, but a mixture of several of these types. This condition may be difficult to understand as it varies greatly from one patient to another Please discuss cerebral palsy further with your doctor for a more in depth view of your particular situation.