Cerebral palsy (CP)
Is a group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture that appear in early years of life, It is the most common motor disability in children.
It is mostly associated with spasticity which is an increase in muscle stiffness and involuntary muscle spasms, nearly two-thirds of children with cerebral palsy will present with upper or lower limb spasticity.
Causes of Cerebral Palsy: The exact cause of cerebral palsy is often unknown, but it can result from factors such as brain injury or abnormal brain development during pregnancy, birth, or early childhood.
Risk factors: include premature birth, low birth weight, infections during pregnancy, and certain genetic conditions.
Spasticity can severely disrupt a child’s life by impacting basic daily activities and skills like speech and the ability to walk which leads those kids to face challenges while getting dressed in the morning or playing in the playground.
Causes of Cerebral Palsy
The exact cause of cerebral palsy is often unknown, but it can result from factors such as brain injury or abnormal brain development during pregnancy, birth, or early childhood. Risk factors include premature birth, low birth weight, infections during pregnancy, and certain genetic conditions.
Symptoms of spasticity in children
Upper limb spasticity
- Upper limb spasticity involves muscles in the arms, hands, and fingers.
- The tightness in those muscles may cause hands, arms, and fingers to contract.
Lower limb spasticity
- Lower limb spasticity involves the muscles in the legs, feet, and toes.
- The tightness in those muscles may cause legs, ankles, and feet to bend or turn.
Management of spasticity
There are several different options that can help manage spasticity in children:
- Baclofen pump.
- Occupational or physical therapy.
- Oral medications – used to relax muscles and diminish spasticity.
- Botulinum toxin medicines – injections of a toxin into the muscles that need to be relaxed to help improve stiffness.
- Splints or casts for arms and legs – used to correct muscle imbalance and abnormalities and increase mobility.
- Surgery on nerves near the spinal cord – performed to relax muscles involved in the spasticity.
Work with your child’s doctor to decide which treatment or a combination of treatments is / are best for you and your child’s needs.
Note: It is common to use more than one treatment to manage spasticity in children.
Is it a lifelong condition?
Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition, but with appropriate management and support, individuals with CP can lead to fulfilling lives and achieve their potential. Early intervention and ongoing care are essential for optimizing outcomes and addressing the evolving needs of individuals with cerebral palsy and spasticity.
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