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What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is a condition that affects muscle movement, coordination, and tone. This happens when the brain doesn’t send proper messages to muscles about how they should move in smooth and well-coordinated manners.Other body functions, such as breathing, bladder control and bowel control can be affected by cerebral palsy nude.
There are many types of CP. There are many types of CP. Some people may have one or more.
- Spastic (pronounced SPASS-tik). This is the most commonly used type of CP. This causes stiffness and difficulty moving.
- Athetoid (pronounced ATH-uht-id) CP is a condition that affects the body’s ability to control its muscles. Uncontrolled movements can occur in some people.
- Ataxic (pronounced: ay-TAK-sik). This type can cause problems with depth perception and balance (judging distance between objects).
What problems does CP cause?
CP can be mild or severe. It all depends on the extent of brain damage. It can affect only a small portion of the brain, such as the one that controls walking. It can also affect larger areas, such as the ones that control walking, talking and understanding speech.
A person with CP may have difficulty speaking or trouble understanding speech if the brain part that controls speech is affected. While some people with CP may have behavior or learning difficulties, others don’t. Some people with CP may have hearing loss, epilepsy, seizures, epilepsy or other medical issues.
Cerebral palsy does not get worse over time. However, how the condition affects a person’s body may change as they grow or mature. Some teens may experience dislocated hips or scoliosis, which is a curvilinear spine condition.
What causes CP?
It is not always possible to determine the cause of CP. It can occur when the brain of a child is still developing. This could be before birth or early infancy. It could be caused by infections, other medical problems in pregnancy, strokes either before or after birth, or other issues during birth.
If babies are born young or if they are very overweight at birth, they have a greater chance of developing CP. Babies who aren’t getting enough oxygen right after or during birth have a greater chance of developing CP. Babies who require a ventilator (a device to aid with breathing) for several days or more after birth have a higher chance of developing CP.
How is CP treated?
There are many ways to manage CP because everyone is affected differently. Some teens only have mild movement problems. Some people need crutches and wheelchairs to move. The best treatment plan is developed by doctors, parents, teachers, therapists and the person living with CP.
These experts may be able to help teens with CP:
- A pediatric orthopedist
- A developmental pediatrician is someone who examines how a person’s growth and development compares to other teens.
- A pediatric physiatrist, or rehabilitation physician, who assists children with various disabilities
- Therapists include occupational therapists for skills like handwriting and movement, speech therapists for speech, and physical therapists for movement.
Some teens with CP use medication to relax their muscles (in spastic CP cases) or to control seizures. Some may need special surgery to make their arms and legs more flexible. Also, surgery can be used to correct scoliosis and dislocated hips. Walking is easier with leg braces.
A diet high in calcium, vitamin D and phosphorus can help improve bone health and keep bones strong.
Cerebral Palsy: A Life with Cerebral Palsy
Rapid growth during puberty can lead to weight gain and clumsiness in teens, and can also make it difficult for someone with CP (chronic paralysis) to move about. As their bones develop, muscles can become more tight and can limit movement.
One thing you can do if you have CP is to be more involved in your care. You should keep up with all your appointments, including any PT and other therapy visits. Your medical team will be there to monitor you and adjust your therapy or treatment as you progress.
Helping a friend with CP
If you have a friend with CP and are wondering how you can help them, treat them as you would any other person. Sometimes, people with CP may need additional assistance when they reach for something. Don’t make a big deal out of it. You can help CP people if they are unable to understand or take longer to complete tasks.
Talk to a friend about living with CP. Everybody wants to be accepted and included. Being in a wheelchair or with other disabilities can make one feel self-conscious or excluded. Be open-minded and inclusive of them in all that you do.
