Diplegic Cerebral Palsy

Sometimes called spastic diplegia, diplegic cerebral palsy is a version of the disability that is characterized by frequent spasms and muscle tensing. A person with this disorder tends to feel the tension most in their legs. Over enough time, this constant tensing of the muscles can affect the joints and reduce the person’s overall range of motion. Nonetheless, diplegic cerebral palsy is considered to be a milder form of the disability. Generally, a child will no experience any impact to their cognitive abilities or intelligence, though certain intellectual milestones may take them a bit more time to reach.
How Infants Acquire Diplegic Cerebral Palsy
The most common way a baby gets diplegic cerebral palsy is because of neonatal asphyxia. This usually occurs when a newborn ends up without enough oxygen during the birthing process. Children who come out prematurely and/or have a low weight at birth are also at a greater risk of potentially acquiring this disability. Both traits can expose a baby to oxygen issues when birth occurs.
Rubella, high-grade fevers, and other maternal infections during pregnancy can also lead to an infant developing diplegic cerebral palsy.
Diplegic Cerebral Palsy: Its Symptoms and Characteristics
Depending on the individual, diplegic cerebral palsy can take on a number of different traits and symptoms. These may include:
In infancy, a baby may use only its arms to get around, but not their legs to actually crawl. Some will remain immobile and simply never attempt to crawl.
Between the ages of 1 and 3, infants and toddlers should be learning to sit cross-legged, which helps with posture. Some children with diplegic cerebral palsy will prefer to sit in a “W” shape instead
When a child starts walking, you may notice they do so with their feet turned toward each other. They may also roll on their feet as they move.
Children who are walking may also be unable to go more than a short distance.
Spastic hip diseases are not only common amongst children with diplegic cerebral palsy, but will actually increase in severity over time. Hip dislocation as well as other types of joint problems will become more and more likely as the child gets older.
Standing alone may be too difficult for a child, even when they get to three years old.
A child’s leg muscles may quickly change from rigid and stiff to relaxed and floppy.
Diagnosis of Diplegic Cerebral Palsy
Even though a physician may know your child was deprived of oxygen during the delivery, they may be hesitant to make a diagnosis at that time of any kind of cerebral palsy. As the main symptoms of diplegic cerebral palsy affect the child’s legs, it will be several months before any confirmation is possible. The child must first exhibit signs that they are having trouble moving their legs and facing delays with their normal development.
Diplegic Cerebral Palsy Treatment
Just like with most types of cerebral palsy, physical therapy can go a long way toward helping people live with it. Not only will physical therapy help build up the child’s muscles; it will make a big difference where coordination, balance and daily tasks are concerned.
Massage therapy has also become popular for children with this disability. Even infants can benefit from this form of care. It helps in relieving stress and reducing the stiffness in the child’s muscles.
Of course, medication can also be very helpful for decreasing muscle spasms as well as the various forms of stiffness people with cerebral palsy suffer from. If medication does not ease the pain, however, a physician may prescribe orthopedic surgery.

Being the least invasive form of cerebral palsy means a diagnosis of diplegic cerebral palsy does not have to mean the end of the world. Although they will have daily challenges to face, going in regularly to have hip check-ups will make a big difference in the quality of life that can be expected.

Difficulties in Diagnosing Cerebral Palsy

Developmental disorders like cerebral palsy are hard to diagnose. Younger children have a higher capacity to heal, and there are many children who fully recover from developmental problems caused by brain injury.
Additionally, early diagnoses of cerebral palsy are difficult to make because it’s hard to differentiate between the signs of CP and the normal reflexes of a developing child. It’s also harder to detect CP in children whose condition is mild because very young children and those with CP both lack motor control and coordination. Therefore, observing the development of the child’s motor skills is the first step toward making a diagnosis.
Common reasons why cerebral palsy is hard to diagnose include:
It may take years for clear signs to appear
Many children with brain damage make a recovery
Levels of severity vary greatly
Signs of CP resemble other disorders
Paying close attention to a child’s delays in motor control is important to rule out any other disorders that look like cerebral palsy in the first months of life. For example, transient dystonia (irregular flexing of the torso) often occurs in prematurely born babies. Infants with transient dystonia have movement issues very similar to infants with CP, but transient dystonia can be corrected after one year of age.

Doctors are usually hesitant to make a diagnosis of cerebral palsy because it shares many symptoms with other conditions. Doctors try to avoid putting more stress on the parent until they are absolutely sure the problem is cerebral palsy.

Is Cerebral Palsy Genetic

These are good questions that we receive in our call center quite regularly as parents strive to learn what caused their child’s cerebral palsy. Most parents want to know whether any future pregnancies will result in cerebral palsy.
With the advancement of neuroimaging technology, researchers have been able to study brain injury and brain malformation to understand how genetic mutations, genetic deletions, risk factors, and health status interact to create causal pathways toward abnormal brain development. The research enables scientists to identify risk factors, prevention measures, and surgical techniques for cerebral palsy.
Many organizations are working to reduce the occurrence of cerebral palsy; understanding when, how and why brain damage occurs during various stages of development is crucial to achieving that goal.

According to the United Cerebral Palsy Research and Educational Foundation, 70% of brain damage that causes cerebral palsy occurs prior to birth, mostly in the second and third pregnancy trimesters. Twenty percent occurs during the birthing period while 10% occurs during the first two years of life while the brain is still forming. The industry has identified four key terms to help discern “when” the brain damage occurs.

How Cerebral Palsy is Diagnosed

Most cerebral palsy is present at birth (congenital), and signs of it may be apparent shortly after delivery; however, delayed development when the baby becomes two or three months old is often the first signal that there is a problem. While many children with CP are diagnosed before they are two years old, milder cases of CP may elude diagnosis until the child is four or five years old.
Evaluating for Cerebral Palsy
When a doctor suspects a child may have cerebral palsy, he or she will first evaluate the patient’s motor skills. A through medical history will be taken. Because many other disorders present symptoms similar to cerebral palsy the possibility of these conditions must be ruled out before a diagnosis of cerebral palsy can be confirmed
The first step in ruling out another condition consists of determining whether or not the child’s disability is getting progressively worse. Cerebral palsy is not a progressive disorder, although complications over time can make it worse. If the child’s condition is getting progressively worse, CP is ruled out.
Doctors will test for genetic or muscle diseases, if the disorder proves not to be cerebral palsy. Tumors or a metabolism disorder will also be tested for. A coagulation disorder can mimic the symptoms of CP because it causes strokes in the unborn or newborn baby which block blood flow and deprive the brain of sufficient oxygen. A coagulation disorder may also be the cause of CP. If a coagulation disorder is still present, it must be treated to prevent further brain damage.
If the child’s condition is not getting progressively worse, it is a sign that CP may indeed be the cause of the child’s problems. To confirm a diagnosis of CP, many diagnostic tests can be used.
Tests which can confirm CP.
To confirm a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, doctors will use brain imaging techniques which allow them to see brain abnormalities and brain damage. The particular tests used are chosen in part based on the patient’s overall condition.
A cranial ultrasound is easier on patients than some of the other tests and so it is used on fragile, premature babies. A cranial ultrasound cannot show the detailed brain images that an MRI or a CT scan can, but it does give doctors some idea about what is happening in the baby’s brain.
For patients in less fragile condition a CT (computerized tomography) scan or an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan will be used. The CT scan shows the structure of the brain in detail and allows doctors to more easily pinpoint the location of the damage or abnormalities.
An MRI uses radio waves, magnetic fields, and computer analysis to give an even more detailed picture of the brain. It is considered the gold standard for diagnosing any brain disorder.

An EEG (electroencephalogram) which uses electrodes to monitor the brain’s electrical activity may also be given. An EEG is especially useful if doctors suspect a seizure disorder may be present along with CP.

Treatments and Medications For Cerebral Palsy

Children and adults with cerebral palsy require long-term care with a medical care team. This team may include:
Pediatrician or physiatrist.A pediatrician oversees the treatment plan and medical care.

Pediatric neurologist. A doctor trained in diagnosing and treating children with brain and nervous system (neurological) disorders may be involved in your child's care.
Orthopedic surgeon. A doctor trained in treating muscle and bone disorders may be involved in diagnosing and treating muscle conditions.
Physical therapist. A physical therapist may help your child improve strength and walking skills, and stretch muscles.
Occupational therapist. An occupational therapist can provide therapy to your child to develop daily skills and to learn to use adaptive products that help with daily activities.
Speech-language pathologist. A doctor trained in diagnosing and treating speech and language disorders may work with your child if your child has difficulties with speech, swallowing or language.
Developmental therapist. A developmental therapist may provide therapy to help your child develop age-appropriate behaviors, social skills and interpersonal skills.
Mental health specialist. A mental health specialist, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, may be involved in your child's care. He or she may help you and your child learn to cope with your child's disability.
Social worker. A social worker may be involved in assisting your family with finding services and planning for transitions in care.
Special education teacher. A special education teacher addresses learning disabilities, determines educational needs and identifies appropriate educational resources.
Medications For Cerebral Palsy
Medications that can lessen the tightness of muscles may be used to improve functional abilities, treat pain and manage complications related to spasticity or other cerebral palsy symptoms.
It's important to talk about the risk of drug treatments with your doctor and discuss whether medical treatment is appropriate for your child's needs. The selection of medications depends on whether the problem affects only certain muscles (isolated) or the whole body (generalized). Drug treatments may include the following:
Isolated spasticity. When spasticity is isolated to one muscle group, your doctor may recommend injections of onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) directly into the muscle, nerve or both. Botox injections may help to improve drooling. Your child will need injections about every three months.
Side effects may include pain, bruising or severe weakness. Other more-serious side effects include difficulty breathing and swallowing.
Generalized spasticity. If the whole body is affected, oral muscle relaxants may relax stiff, contracted muscles. These drugs include diazepam (Valium), dantrolene (Dantrium) and baclofen (Gablofen).
There is some risk of dependency with diazepam, so it's not recommended for long-term use. Its side effects include drowsiness, weakness and drooling.
Side effects of dantrolene include sleepiness, nausea and or diarrhea.

Side effects of baclofen include sleepiness, confusion and nausea. Baclofen may also be pumped directly into the spinal cord with a tube. The pump is surgically implanted under the skin of the abdomen.

What Cost of Cerebral Palsy Treatment

Every day there will be over ten of CP kids or children who are taken by their parents, mother or father or both to come to visit our stem cell treatment for seeking some hope on improving the CP children’s current medical condition.I don’t know the cost of cerebral palsy in our country. But I read about one article on it and share here to you.
One commonly quoted study detailing the cost of cerebral palsy treatment in the U.S. was published by The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report on January 30, 2004 and titled, “Economic Costs Associated with Mental Retardation, Cerebral Palsy, Hearing Loss, and Vision Impairment – United States, 2003.”
The article reports “lifetime costs in 2003 dollars are expected to total $51.2 billion for persons born in 2000 with mental retardation, $11.5 billion for persons with cerebral palsy, $1.9 billion for persons with hearing loss, and $2.6 billion for persons with vision impairment.”
Of the $11.5 billion expense for persons with cerebral palsy:
• Indirect costs – 80.6%, or $9.241 billion, accounts for indirect expenses such as productivity loss due to inability to work; limitation in the amount or type of work; and premature mortality
• Direct medical costs – 10.2%, or $1.175 billion, includes physician visits, prescription medications, in-patient hospital stays, assistive devices, therapies, rehabilitation, and long-term care
• Direct non-medical costs – 9.2%, or $1.054 billion, includes such expenses special education, home and automobile modifications

The study, a collaborative effort between the CDC and RTI International, examines direct and indirect medical expenses associated with developmental disabilities. The study was based on 2003 dollars for individuals born with developmental disabilities (DD) in the year 2000.

Stem Cell Therapy for Cerebral Palsy

Have you ever heard about stem cell therapy for cerebral palsy? Do you know what is the stem cell and cerebral palsy? Before treatment of people with cerebral palsy, knowing what is the cerebral palsy is very important. Cerebral palsy is one of the most common congenital of disorder of childhood disease that affect movement problem and make people lack of coordination. If you have a child or family member suffer from cerebral palsy, you must very worry and want to try any therapy to help they to have health body.
As we all know, cerebral palsy is still incurable disease at present. With development of the social of development, more and more people suffer from cerebral palsy. People start pay attention to treatment of cerebral palsy and want to help children who suffer from cerebral palsy. Children with cerebral palsy usually have those common symptoms, it is include: Loss of movement or muscle weakness in a group of muscles,vision problems, hearing problems, drooling, balance problem, abnormal posture, and so on.
 Do you know what is the stem cell transplantation therapy? Stem cell therapy is different from other therapies, it is have self functions and abilities that can effective treatment for cerebral palsy. Stem cells are give to replace damage cells and death cells to work normally.

What are the advantages of stem cells have? Stem cells have secretion function that means it is can secret growth factors and nutrition, which can supply to human body need. Stem cells also have repairing function that can repair damage cells to work again. Stem cells also have replacement ability that can replace death cells and it is can rebuild new tissues in the brain. Thus, stem cell therapy for cerebral palsy is the most effective therapy.

Ataxic Cerebral Palsy Symptoms

Ataxic cerebral palsy symptoms:
Tremors or shaking which increase in intensity when trying to control movement like reaching for something this is sometime referred to as intention tremor.
Balance problems more noticeable when walking

Weak muscles are often associated with the condition.
Wide stance or gait which is required to manage balance and control particularly when trying to make quick movement.
Frustration is can become a problem as a child is keen to perform a task may become difficult
Other common associated conditions include:
Learning Difficulty
Epilepsy
Spatial Awareness
Hearing Problems
Behavioral Problems
Sleep Problems
Difficulty Feeding
Drooling

A child with ataxic cerebral palsy can benefit greatly from therapies and despite the condition being permanent appropriate therapy will improve the quality of life.

Children With Ataxic Cerebral Palsy

Children who have ataxic cerebral palsy number around 5% of cerebral palsy sufferers making it the least common type.
Ataxic cerebral palsy is onset after damage to the cerebellum shortly before during or following birth and is often diagnosed up to the age of 4 years old.
The part of the brain affected manages co-ordination and body movement.
A child suffering from this type ataxic CP may exhibit near normal learning although it is not uncommon for examples of learning difficulty

No two cases of Ataxic cerebral palsy are exactly the same because the the depth of of the condition can range from mild through to sever.

Spastic Cerebral Palsy Types,Causes,Symptoms,Treatment

Spastic cerebral palsy is a disorder that causes muscle tightness. It makes up over 70 percent of all cases of cerebral palsy.

Spastic Cerebral Palsy Explained

Spastic cerebral palsy is a developmental disorder caused by damage to the brain before or during birth or within the first few years of life. It is the most common type of cerebral palsy. Spastic CP is characterized by jerky movements and muscle and joint stiffness.
This condition prevents the normal development of motor function. Spastic cerebral palsy often makes simple tasks difficult, such as walking and picking up small objects. Some children with spastic cerebral palsy also develop co-occurring conditions as a result of their brain injury. These co-occurring conditions range from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to seizures.

Types of Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Spastic cerebral palsy is classified based on the location of movement issues. Children with spastic CP may have muscle stiffness in an arm, both legs or even on one half of their body. The most common types of spastic CP are:
Spastic diplegia – Muscle stiffness occurs primarily in the legs but may also slightly affect the child’s arms.
Spastic hemiplegia – One side of the body is affected by movement problems, with the arm typically being stiffer than the leg.
Spastic quadriplegia – All four limbs are affected as well as the torso and face. Children with quadriplegia often have co-occurring disorders, such as epilepsy.

Causes and Risk Factors

Cerebral palsy is a catch-all term for developmental movement disorders caused by a brain injury. Each type of cerebral palsy is caused by damage to a specific part of the brain. Spastic CP is caused by damage to the motor cortex and the pyramidal tracts of the brain, which connect the motor cortex to the spinal cord.
Motor cortex
The motor cortex is located in the cerebral cortex, which is the largest part of the brain. The motor cortex is composed of several parts that are responsible for relaying signals to other parts of the brain to control movement. The most important aspect of the motor cortex in relation to cerebral palsy is its regulation of voluntary movement. Damage to this region of the brain makes voluntary movement harder to control and less fluid.
Pyramidal tracts
The pyramidal tracts in the brain are the roads of communication between the cerebral cortex and the nerves in the spinal cord. If pyramidal tracts are damaged, the motor cortex can’t send proper signals to the spinal cord. The spinal cord is one half of the central nervous system (the other half being the brain and brain stem), which is essential for sensory functions such as sight, touch and movement.
Understanding the function of the motor cortex and pyramidal tracts helps to explain how damage to these systems affects movement in those with spastic CP.
The motor cortex and pyramidal tracts may be damaged by:
Prenatal brain hemorrhage or infection
Lack of oxygen to the brain during birth
Brain trauma or infection after birth
Several risk factors may increase the likelihood of a developmental brain injury occurring. Poor maternal health and a low birth weight are just some of the risk factors for any type of cerebral palsy.

Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of spastic cerebral palsy are different for every child. Differences in symptoms depend on the severity of the child’s brain injury and any co-occurring disorders that may be present.
In general, the most common symptoms of spastic CP are:
Exaggerated movements
Stiff, tight muscles (hypertonia)
Contractures
Abnormal reflexes
Co-occurring issues may also present themselves, such as hearing and vision impairment, but these aren’t directly related to the cerebral palsy; they are caused by the initial birth injury.
In the first years of a child’s life, it is hard to recognize the signs of spastic cerebral palsy. This is because the signs do not present themselves until a child begins missing developmental milestones. In the early developmental years, children have some of the same jerky reflexes that are associated with the spastic CP. It usually takes up to 18 months of age before spastic CP can be diagnosed.
The most common signs of spastic cerebral palsy are:
Abnormal gait
Crossed knees
Joints don’t extend fully
Walking on toes
Tight muscles in one part of the body

Treatment Options

Treatment for spastic cerebral palsy varies with each case. The severity and specific location of movement problems are the biggest factors in outlining treatment. However, there are often secondary conditions that require treatment. There are three routes of treatment for spastic CP: physical therapy, medications and surgery.
Physical therapy
The first type of treatment prescribed to children with spastic cerebral palsy is usually physical therapy. The goal of physical therapy is to provide as much independence to the child as possible. This treatment is centered on flexibility exercises and stretching out stiff muscles. Physical therapy can help children with spastic CP improve their overall motor function and prevent future complications.
Medications
Medications are used widely to treat children with spastic cerebral palsy. Benzodiazepines, such as Valium, are taken orally to relieve muscle stiffness and improve movement throughout the body. There are also medications that can treat muscle stiffness in specific parts of the body, usually via injection. Children with spastic CP are often given medication to treat secondary conditions like ADHD and seizures.
Surgery
Surgery may be a large part of treatment for children with spastic cerebral palsy. There are several types of surgeries that are used to correct joint dislocations, shortened muscles and sensory impairments that hinder normal motor function.
Every child with CP is different, and some require more treatment than others. All parents should have the same goal when it comes to treatment, which is to give their child the best life possible. There is help available for parents exploring treatment options and the costs associated with their child’s condition.

Children Cerebral Palsy Life Expectancy

Have you ever heard about what is the cerebral palsy? Do you know how to prolong cerebral palsy patients life? Cerebral palsy also known as CP. is rather common among the younger generation, and it is mainly occurs among the population of children all over the globe, especially infants. As we all known, cerebral palsy is one of the most common congenital disorders of in infants period. Cerebral palsy is a disorder that affects muscle tone, motor skills, and movement.

According to research show that cerebral Palsy is usually caused by brain damage that occurs during a child birth, or during the first 3 to 5 years of a kid’s life. Cerebral palsy usually caused by various reasons, but the exact cause is unknown. While many are the result of problems during pregnancy in which the brain is either doesn't develop normally or damaged. This can be cause infections, a genetic disorder, and maternal health problems. It is usually including hearing loss, visual impairment or blindness, speech problems, drooling, tooth decay, sleep disorders, osteoporosis (weak, brittle bones), and behavior problems.

As above severe symptoms of cerebral palsy, prolong cerebral palsy patients life is very important. the treatments of child’s cerebral palsy not only being a difficult problem at home and abroad, but also makes the child’s cerebral palsy becomes a serious problem. Fortunately, with the stem cells therapy emergence, the treatment of cerebral palsy has an extent improved. Our department is one of the first institutes in the world for stem cell research and clinical practice, and more then 7000 patients we have been treated, there is no one that experience obvious rejection or adverse reaction.

Many patients already have improved and treated effect. Such as better speech function, batter motor function, and holding things with more flexible hands, and so no. At present, although cerebral palsy is still incurable throughout the world, the stem cell treatment, the most advanced treatment for cerebral palsy, it not only can significantly relieve but also control the symptoms and associated conditions. Thus, stem cell therapy is the most effective treatment to prolong cerebral palsy patients life.

Fish Oil For Cerebral Palsy

Fish oil is oil derived from the tissues of oily fish. Fish oils contain the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) anddocosahexaenoic acid (DHA), precursors of certain eicosanoids that are known to reduce inflammation in the body, and have other health benefits.

Fish Oil For Cerebral Palsy
Fish oil is an important source of omega-3 fats. These fats line the neural passageways and initiate more effective nerve communication and responses. Omega-3s also encourage the development of healthy brain tissue. You can take a fish oil supplement by mouth every day.
Individuals with cerebral palsy may also need extra fat and protein supplements if the diet is poor or if there are complications while eating. Healthy fats, including coconut oil, butter, olive oil, nut oils, and avocado oil can help increase the fat content in the diet.
Avoid filler fats, such as trans fats and hydrogenated fats. Fats from fried foods and junk foods should also be avoided. At all times, foods should be chosen based on their nutritional quality rather than simply their calorie content even if the person with cerebral palsy is underweight. Larger quantities of healthy foods are always preferable to smaller quantities of unhealthy foods.

Look for sources of protein from protein powders, dairy, eggs, beans, and humanely-raised animals. Gelatin and other colorless and tasteless protein powders can be added to other foods to boost their nutritional value.

Cerebral Palsy Facts

Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affects a persons brain (cerebral) and the way that they use their muscles (palsy).
Children with cerebral palsy can sometimes have very mild symptoms, such as being a little clumsy when they run. Others may have more severe symptoms, such as not being able to walk at all.
Cerebral Palsy Facts
Children with cerebral palsy typically are delayed in meeting developmental milestones, such as holding their head steady, rolling over, crawling, sitting up, standing with support, or walking.
Cerebral palsy can be caused by a number of different things during pregnancy or a baby's first year of life, including infections, pregnancy problems, severe jaundice (kernicterus), child abuse, strokes, head injuries, and genetic disorders.
Premature babies and multiple births (twins, triplets, etcs.) are at increased risk for cerebral palsy.
Some causes of cerebral palsy, such as from kerniterus and most head injuries, can be prevented. Adequate prenatal care and early recognition and treatment of infections may also help to prevent cerebral palsy.
The Apgar score can not predict if a child will have cerebral palsy.
There is no cure for cerebral palsy.

Cerebral palsy does not worsen over time and symptoms often get better with physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other treatments.

Athetoid Cerebral Palsy Causes and Types

Athetoid cerebral palsy is one of several types of movement disorders caused by a brain injury. Each type of cerebral palsy differs based on which part of the brain is damaged. In the case of athetoid CP, the damaged parts of the brain are the basal ganglia and/or the cerebellum.
Basal ganglia
The basal ganglia are a group of nuclei in the brain responsible for coordinating voluntary movement. The basal ganglia are located within the cerebral cortex, a part of the brain that helps control motor function. The basal ganglia also help regulate thinking and learning. Damage to the basal ganglia affects motor function development and causes involuntary movements.
Cerebellum
The cerebellum is responsible for regulating coordination and precision of movements, both of which are essential to fine motor skills and balance. When the cerebellum is damaged, balance and coordination become a struggle. The cerebellum is also an important part of cognitive functions, such as communication and attention. A damaged cerebellum can cause co-occurring disorders, such as intellectual disabilities.
Damage to the cerebellum and basal ganglia can be caused by:
Infections, such as meningitis
Trauma to the developing brain
Lack of oxygen to the brain
Certain risk factors increase the chances of brain injuries that cause athetoid cerebral palsy. In general, the risk factors for all types of CP are the same, including: premature birth, severe infantile jaundice and blood clotting in the placenta. Learn more about the risk factors of cerebral palsy.
Types of Athetoid CP
Athetoid cerebral palsy may be given other distinctions to further classify the condition based on the specific type of involuntary movement.
These classifications include:
Dystonia – This is distinguished by slow, rotational movement of the torso, arm or leg, causing poor posture.
Chorea – Sudden involuntary movements, especially in fingers and toes, are known as chorea.
Athetosis – The condition “athetoid” is derived from athetosis and is described by sluggish, writhing movements, mainly in fingers and face.
Choreoathetoid – This a combination of chorea and athetosis.
Ataxia – A rare type of cerebral palsy, ataxia is represented by loss of balance and coordination.
Rigidity – High muscle tone due to hypertonia causes restricted movement.

Dyskinesia – This is a general term to describe involuntary movements. Athetoid cerebral palsy is often interchangeably referred to as dyskinetic cerebral palsy for this reason.

Acupuncture for Stroke Patients

Acupuncture may benefit people who have suffered a stroke, a medical emergency that occurs when the blood supply to your brain is suddenly cut off or when a blood vessel in your brain bursts. A type of needle-based alternative therapy long used in traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture may help treat several of the disabilities that commonly occur in people who have experienced a stroke.

Benefits of Acupuncture for Stroke Patients

To date, there is a little scientific support for the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of conditions caused by stroke. For instance, a 2006 review of five trials concluded that "there is no clear evidence on the effects" of acupuncture for stroke rehabilitation. However, several small studies indicate that acupuncture may be of some benefit to stroke patients. Here's a look at their findings:

Balance Function

Acupuncture may boost balance in people who have suffered a stroke, according to a 2009 study of 30 patients. After undergoing a single acupuncture treatment, study participants showed improvements in balance function (as well as in muscle strength).

Acupuncture may help treat spastic dyskinesia (difficulty in performing voluntary movements), a common problem among stroke patients. The study involved 96 stroke patients, all of whom underwent one acupuncture session. Study results suggest that acupuncture may significantly improve spastic dyskinesia, as well as enhance daily functioning.

Acupuncture for Stroke Rehabilitation


Due to the lack of research, it's too soon to recommend acupuncture for stroke rehabilitation. If you're interested in using acupuncture to treat conditions caused by stroke, it is essential that you talk to your physician first. Keep in mind that self-treating and avoiding or delaying standard care can have serious consequences. In using acupuncture for stroke rehabilitation, it's important to work with a qualified medical acupuncturist.

What is Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Spastic cerebral palsy is the most everyday sort of cerebral palsy, accounting for nearly 80 percent of their cerebral palsy cases. Kids with the sort of cerebral palsy have one of these tight muscle tissues which limit movement. Kids with spastic cerebral palsy have stiff and jerky movements. They will have a hard time moving from just one position to a new one. They will in addition have a hassle holding and letting go of objects.
Spastic cerebral palsy refers to the increased tone, or tension, from a muscle. Normal muscles are employed in pairs. When one group contracts the opposite group relaxes, allowing free movement in your desired direction. Due to complications in brain-to-nerve-to-muscle communication, the typical ebb and flow of muscle tension is disrupted. Muscles troubled by spastic cerebral palsy become active together and block effective movement. This leads the muscles in spastic cerebral palsy patients to remain constantly tense, or spastic. Spastic cerebral palsy patients could quite possibly have mild cases that affect not many movements, or severe cases that might get a new whole body. Although spastic cerebral palsy is absolutely not viewed as a progressive disorder, as brain damage doesn't get worse in the future, spasticity in muscles can increase in the future. This increased muscle and stiffness in spastic cerebral palsy can limit backyard of motion inside the joints. The of spastic cerebral palsy may increase with anxiety or exerted effort, which causes excessive fatigue.

Spastic cerebral palsy negatively affects the patients joints and muscles within the extremities, causing abnormal movements, and will disrupt normal development in children. Spastic cerebral palsy can inhibit a number of things which include normal motions in body movement, longitudinal muscle growth, and protein synthesis in muscle cells. Spastic cerebral palsy also limits stretching of muscles in life-style and causes the roll-out of muscle and joint deformities. Children born with spastic cerebral palsy will not have deformities in the extremities at birth but develop them gradually as a result of joint contractures.


Treatments for spastic cerebral palsy vary according to harshness of the symptoms inside the individual. Medications, similar to Valium and baclofen, have been completely tried nonetheless general consensus is that they you should never reduce spasticity. Baclofen infusion, however, a new procedure, has become slightly more effective in spastic cerebral palsy. With a pump inserted from the abdomen, baclofen is distributed to muscles, reducing spasticity. However, when baclofen therapy is stopped, spasticity returns. Risks connected with baclofen include overdose, meningitis, along with other complications, and as it's a rather new treatment, long-term affects are currently mysterious.

What Are the Signs of Cerebral Palsy(CP)

There are four main types of Cerebral Palsy:
Spastic Cerebral Palsy is where there is too much muscle tone or tightness. Movements are stiff, especially in the legs, arms, and/or back. Children with this form of CP move their legs awkwardly, turning in or scissoring their legs as they try to walk. This form of CP occurs in 50-75% of all cases.
Athetoid CP (also called dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy) can affect movements of the entire body. Typically, this form of CP involves slow, uncontrolled body movements and low muscle tone that makes it hard for the person to sit straight and walk. This form occurs in 10-20% of all cases.
Ataxic CP involves poor coordination, balance, and depth perception and occurs in approximately 5-10% of all cases.
Mixed CP is a combination of the symptoms listed above. A child with mixed CP has both high and low tone muscle. Some muscles are too tight, and others are too loose, creating a mix of stiffness and involuntary movements.
More words used to describe the different types of CP include:
Diplegia—This means only the legs are affected.
Hemiplegia—This means one half of the body (such as the right arm and leg) is affected.

Quadriplegia—This means both arms and legs are affected, sometimes including the facial muscles and torso.

How is Cerebral Palsy Diagnosed

Doctors diagnose cerebral palsy by testing an infant's motor skills and looking carefully at the mother’s and infant's medical history. In addition to checking for those symptoms described above -- slow development, abnormal muscle tone, and unusual posture -- a physician also tests the infant's reflexes and looks for early development of hand preference.

Reflexes are movements that the body makes automatically in response to a specific cue. For example, if a newborn baby is held on its back and tilted so the legs are above its head, the baby will automatically extend its arms in a gesture, called the Moro reflex, that looks like an embrace. Babies normally lose this reflex after they reach 6 months, but those with cerebral palsy may retain it for abnormally long periods. This is just one of several reflexes that a physician can check.

Doctors can also look for hand preference—a tendency to use either the right or left hand more often. When the doctor holds an object in front and to the side of the infant, an infant with hand preference will use the favored hand to reach for the object, even when it is held closer to the opposite hand. During the first 12 months of life, babies do not usually show hand preference. But infants with spastic hemiplegia, in particular, may develop a preference much earlier, since the hand on the unaffected side of their body is stronger and more useful.


The next step in diagnosing cerebral palsy is to rule out other disorders that can cause movement problems. Most important, doctors must determine that the child's condition is not getting worse. Although its symptoms may change over time, cerebral palsy by definition is not progressive. If a child is continuously losing additional motor skills, the problem more likely springs from elsewhere—including genetic diseases, muscle diseases, disorders of metabolism, or tumors in the nervous system. The child's medical history, special diagnostic tests, and, in some cases, repeated check-ups can help confirm that other disorders are not at fault.

Exams and Tests of Cerebral Palsy

Diagnosing cerebral palsy
Developmental delays are often reported by parents or observed by a doctor during routine well-baby checks.
A doctor diagnoses CP based on:
Questions about the child's medical history, including details about the mother's pregnancy.

A physical exam to look for signs of CP. The doctor will look to see if the child retains newborn reflexes longer than normal. This can be a sign of CP. Postures and basic muscle function, hearing, and vision are usually checked.
Screening tests. Developmental questionnaires and other tests may be done.
MRI of the head. This test can findbrain abnormalities.
If the diagnosis is unclear, more tests may be done. Sometimes these tests can help find out the severity of CP.
A doctor may closely monitor a newbornor child for signs of CP if he or she has known risk factors. These factors may be related to problems during pregnancy or birth, being born early (premature birth), or problems that occur within the first 2 or 3 years of life.
Doctors are careful not to diagnose CP too early, because some babies who have motor skill problems soon after birth never get CP.
Sometimes symptoms may not appear until the nervous system matures. It can take up to a few years before doctors can tell if a baby with body movement and posture (motor) problems has CP.
Evaluating and monitoring cerebral palsy
After CP is diagnosed, a child will also be checked for other medical conditions that can occur with cerebral palsy, such as:
Other developmental delays in addition to ones already found. Developmental abilities will be checked to find out if new symptoms, such as speech and language delay, appear as a child's nervous system matures.
Intellectual disability. This can be checked by intelligence testing.
Seizures. An electroencephalography (EEG) is used to check for abnormal activity in the brain if a child has a history of seizures.
Problems with feeding and swallowing.
Vision or hearing problems.
Behavioral problems.

Most of the time, a doctor can predict many of the long-term physical effects of CP when a child is 1 to 3 years old. But sometimes such predictions aren't possible until a child reaches school age. That's when learning, communication skills, and other abilities can be checked.

How To Treat Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy treatment is a diverse field of study. With each case being as unique as the individual it affects, the type of cerebral palsy treatment a patient requires will vary from person to person. With over 800,000 children and adults in the United States alone affected by some type of cerebral palsy, an additional 8,000 children will be diagnosed each year. The diagnosis of new cerebral palsy patients is growing every year.

Most of the causes of cerebral palsy do not have specific, curative treatments. However, children with cerebral palsy present many medical problems that can be treated or prevented. The initial stage of treatment involves an interdisciplinary team, consisting of a pediatrician, preferable one with experience in neurodevelopmental disorders, a neurologist (or other neurological practitioner), a mental health practitioner, an orthopedic surgeon, a physical therapist, a speech therapist, and an occupational therapist. Each member of the team has important, independent contributions to make in the care of the affected child.
The physical therapist evaluates muscle tone, strength, and gait (walking).
The occupational therapist reviews the child's ability to perform tasks of self-help and care -- from feeding to manual dexterity.
The speech therapist evaluates the child's ability to speak and understand speech.
Most children with neurological impairment have significant emotional distress and also require therapy from a mental health practitioner.
Virtually all states have federally-mandated programs for the assessment and treatment of children with cerebral palsy and other developmental conditions. In many states, these programs are termed "Regional Centers" and can be found in local phone books. Also Children's Hospitals usually have special clinics with experience with children with cerebral palsy. Furthermore, when a child reaches the age of 3 years, the school district may become formally involved in the review of at-risk children. These programs protect children up to the age of 21 years.
Another cerebral palsy treatment is exercise therapy, which can greatly enhance the mindset of the patient and give them a great sense of accomplishment. Whether indoor or outdoor, exercise increases the amount of oxygen delivered to the brain and can alleviate stress. Swimming can be quite beneficial during cerebral palsy treatment, preferably in a warmer than average pool. Movements performed in water will be easier and more effective at exercising muscles. Recreational therapists are available to teach your child how to swim, which for some patients may be their only mobility.

Hippotherapy, also known as horseback riding, involves specially trained physical and occupational therapists in treatment for patients with movement dysfunction. The horse’s movements benefit the patient and they can bond with the animal as well. Hippotherapy uses the influence of the horse over the patient, rather than the patient controlling the horse. This strategy is used as part of an integrated treatment program to achieve functional outcomes in cerebral palsy treatment.