Low birthweight Caused Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is caused by abnormal development of the brain or damage to the developing brain that affects a child’s ability to control his or her muscles. There are several possible causes of the abnormal development or damage. People used to think that CP was mainly caused by lack of oxygen during the birth process. Now, scientists think that this causes only a small number of CP cases.
Some things increase the chance that a child will have CP. These are called risk factors. It is important to remember that having a risk factor does not mean that a child will have CP. Some of the risk factors for congenital CP are:
Low birthweight―Children who weigh less than 5 1/2 pounds (2,500 grams) at birth, and especially those who weigh less than 3 pounds, 5 ounces (1,500 grams) have a greater chance of having CP.
Premature birth―Children who were born before the 37th week of pregnancy, especially if they were born before the 32nd week of pregnancy, have a greater chance of having CP. Intensive care for premature infants has improved a lot over the past several decades. Babies born very early are more likely to live now, but many have medical problems that can put them at risk for CP.

Multiple births―Twins, triplets, and other multiple births have a higher risk for CP, especially if a baby’s twin or triplet dies before birth or shortly after birth. Some, but not all of this increased risk is due to the fact that children born from multiple pregnancies often are born early or with low birthweight, or both.

Exercises for Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common form of the condition, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. This condition is characterized by stiffness and a contraction of the muscles that can be localized in the arms, legs and back, or can be spread throughout the body. Tight muscles due to spastic cerebral palsy make movement difficult, and any type of exercise may treat this lack of mobility.
Swimming/Water Therapy
An aquatic-based rehabilitation plan, according to the Cerebral Palsy Source website, can benefit spastic cerebral palsy patients because water reduces the force of gravity and provides some support to the body when submerged. The tightness in the musculature of a cerebral palsy patient makes it difficult to straighten out limbs completely. Water exercises like swimming or walking in water can help loosen the tight muscles, making movement easier.
Arm Cycling
If your condition is localized in your arms, your doctor or therapist may suggest a bicycling motion performed with your arms. This exercise often requires an arm cycling machine called an ergometer, or can be performed with a bicycle designed to be pedaled with the arms. This exercise can improve heart and lung function, muscular strength and flexibility.
Yoga/Tai Chi

The United Cerebral Palsy Foundation notes that some exercises performed in yoga and tai chi can benefit cerebral palsy patients by improving bone strength, balance as well as mobility. Focus initially on breathing and stretching exercises, and increase the amount of exercises you perform as your condition improves.

Symptoms of Mild Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a condition that occurs when there is damage to the areas of the brain that control movement. This damage can occur to the brain of a child during pregnancy, delivery or right after birth. CP is classified by type, depending on how the body is affected. The challenge with this condition is that the early symptoms may be so subtle that they may not be indicative of CP. This means it may take time to reach an accurate diagnosis. In some cases, there may be no signs of the disease until the child shows developmental delays. However, learning to recognize the signs will help you work with your health care team to properly diagnose and teat this condition.

Delays in Development

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the first signs of a mild case of CP may show up when your child is unable to complete certain tasks by a certain age. He may have trouble rolling over, maintaining balance, crawling, walking, smiling or sitting up. It may be difficult for a child with CP to run, kick or coordinate movement. CP tends to affect one side of the body more than the other, so one-sided weakness may be a clear sign.

Lack of Muscle Tone

An infant who has CP may appear to have very relaxed muscles, called hypotonia, and even seem floppy. This may occur during the first few months of life. In later months, your child may develop hypertonia. This means that your child's muscles become very stiff and rigid. The muscles may be very weak, and the child may develop a shakiness or experience tremors.

Additional Symptoms


CerebralPalsy.org also recommends being on the lookout for excessive drooling, trouble sucking, difficulty using scissors or pencils, weak facial muscles and inability to control the tongue. It is also good to know that in most cases, mild symptoms tend to be noticeable between 18 months and three years of age.

Herbal Therapies for Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy covers a wide spectrum of brain-related motor problems. Cerebral injuries that occur at or soon after birth may result in muscular or nerve dysfunction, which can present in the form of paralysis in one or more area of the body. Individuals may experience a range of severity with this non-progressive lifelong condition. Conventional treatments and herbal therapies alike show great promise for Cerebral palsy patients, especially if the diagnosis takes place early on. Several herbs have therapeutic uses in cerebral palsy.
Herbs can be used to nourish the brain, improve motor control, and increase mental acuity. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are similar to hormones. They are a major part of the central nervous system that work not only in the brain, but throughout the entire body. Ginkgo biloba, Panax and Siberian ginseng can increase the activity of these neurotransmitters for improved muscle functions. These herbs also have other helpful uses in cases of cerebral palsy.
Free radicals are often prevalent in cases of cerebral palsy. Antioxidant rich herbs can help counteract and prevent further cell damage caused by their presence. Rosemary, ginger, and ginkgo biloba are among those that have been cited for their high antioxidant content. Antioxidants are also helpful in assisting the body with proper oxygen utilization, which is very important for proper brain, nerve and muscle function.
Ginger may also be used to improve circulation to the extremities. For improved circulation throughout the entire body, prickly ash is another good option. Again we see Ginkgo as useful for improved circulatory function. The better circulation of blood, the more optimal oxygen levels and vital nutrients will be in the brain and nerve cells.
Additional Supplementation
Various nutrients work to provide improved muscle tone. Magnesium, vitamin C and thiamine are not always consumed in adequate amounts in today's modern diets, so supplementation may be helpful. Multivitamins with added minerals are best in organic, whole food forms. Adequate protein intake is also important because of the amino acids provided for proper muscle growth.
Dietary Considerations

Preservatives and food additives found in processed foods should be avoided. Many of them, like MSG, can pose the threat of toxicity to the brain. Foods should be consumed in the most natural form when available. Whole grains, fresh vegetables, and fruits are good options. Check with a doctor to rule out any possible food allergies that may cause an increase in symptoms.

Diseases That Can Be Mistaken for Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy describes a neurologic disorder caused by brain damage usually sustained during fetal development or delivery. The damage to the brain interferes with muscle coordination and body movements causing delayed development in infants. Symptoms of cerebral palsy include a lack of muscle coordination, stiff or tight muscles, a drop foot, an unbalanced gait, crouched walking, walking on the toes, a lack of muscle tone, excessive drooling, tremors and difficulty with tasks requiring precise movements like buttoning a shirt. Doctors often mistake many other diseases with similar symptoms for cerebral palsy; however, one of the most distinguishing characteristics is that cerebral palsy is not degenerative, meaning symptoms do not worsen over time.

Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease

Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease, classified as a rare genetic disorder, belongs to the group of diseases known as leukodystrophies. Leukodystrophies affect the growth of myelin—the fatty substance which surrounds nerves throughout the body and brain. Like cerebral palsy, Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease causes muscle weakness and a lack of coordination resulting in delayed development as described by the National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke.

Although the symptoms of Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease often cause a mistaken initial diagnosis of cerebral palsy, several differences distinguish the two disorders. Cerebral palsy occurs due to brain damage, while Pelizaeus-Merzbacher occurs due to a genetic mutation that affects the production of a myelin protein. Pelizaeus-Merzbacher is a degenerative disease causing symptoms to progressively worsen over time while cerebral palsy symptoms remain the same.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, CMT, is the most common neurological disorder, according to the Charcot-Marie Tooth Association, affecting approximately 2.6 million people world-wide. Although symptoms of CMT, including muscle weakness, a drop foot, an unbalanced gait and tremors, resemble cerebral palsy causing a mistaken diagnosis, the two disorders possess different characteristics.

CMT is a progressive neurological disease affecting the nerves that control the muscles, unlike cerebral palsy that affects the brain. CMT causes a loss of nerve function resulting in a tingling or burning sensation, neuropathic pain and a sensory loss.

Can cerebral palsy be treated with stem cells?

Mesenchymal stem cells from umbilical cord are considered to be universal donor cells because they are not immediately recognized as foreign. The cells home to damaged tissue and are known to secrete molecules called trophic factors.
Trophic factors from mesenchymal stem cells are known to stimulate repair of damaged nervous tissue in both the brain and the spinal cord. Some of these are neurotrophic factors that promote neuronal growth, induce new blood vessel growth, neurogenesis and astroglial activation, encourage synaptic connection and axonal remyelination, decrease programed cell death, and regulate microglial activation.
Mesenchymal stem cells stimulate brain repair after stroke1 and traumatic brain injury.
Animal studies show that mesenchymal stem cell can migrate into the brain and survive.
Because we utilize allogeneic cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells, we are able to offer treatment to any qualified patient, not just those who saved their own cord blood at birth. We will discuss several additional advantages of allogeneic cord-derived stem cells below.
There is evidence to support that bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells are safe and improve the quality of life in children with neurological disorders including cerebral palsy.
Which kinds of stem cells are utilized for CP treatment and how are they collected?
The Stem Cell Institute leverages adult stem cells from human umbilical cord tissue to treat cerebral palsy. These stem cells are harvested from donated umbilical cords. In accordance with International Blood Bank standards, all umbilical cord-derived stem cells are rigorously screened for viruses and bacteria at Medistem Labs before they are approved for use in patients.

In some cases, stem cells harvested from the patient’s own bone marrow are used in addition to umbilical cord tissue-derived cells.

Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy in Infants

A parent or caregiver is usually the first person to notice an infant’s early symptoms of cerebral palsy. At first, a parent may dismiss or repress the idea that anything is truly wrong. Parents often chalk up their child’s missed development milestones to being a “late bloomer.”
However, if you think your child potential has symptoms of cerebral palsy you should contact your doctor immediately. Testing is available to determine cerebral palsy and other development disorders.
In the case of cerebral palsy, the earlier a child is diagnosed and can start treatment, the better.

What Are the Early Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy in Infants?
Cerebral palsy is difficult to detect at birth. Two early indicators of cerebral palsy in infants are abnormal muscle tone or the tendency to favor one side of the body over the other. If your infant seems unusually floppy or limp it could be a sign of hypotonia, meaning reduced muscle tone. If your infant seems excessively rigid or unbendable it could be a sign of hypertonia, meaning increased muscle tone. While typically an infant is affected with either hypertonia or hypotonia, sometimes an infant will endure an early bout of hypotonia only to progress to hypertonia after a few months. Other early symptoms of cerebral palsy in infants involve poor control over mouth muscles. Excessive vomiting, gagging or other feeding problems are sometimes lead to other more advanced cerebral palsy symptoms.
It is difficult to detect cerebral palsy until children start reaching development milestones. However, specific kinds of cerebral palsy do have some early indicators. For example, statistics show 70% of cerebral palsy cases are of a specific type of the disorder called spastic. Early symptoms of spastic cerebral palsy include the drawing in of arms and legs or difficulty in straightening an infant’s limbs. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy, another type of the disorder, can cause infants to writhe involuntarily in an irregular motion.
Physical Milestones
Brings hands together – 4 months
Sits with out support – 6 months
Crawls – 9 months
Feeds self with fingers – 9 months
Hold bottle without a assistance – 12 months
Walks unassisted – between 12-15 months
Walks up and down stairs – 24 months
Verbal Milestones
Localize a sound to the right or left side and turn head towards it – 1 month
Smile spontaneously – 1 month
Imitate speech sounds and babble – between 3 and 6 months
Individual word comprehension – between 6 to 10 months
Ability to say Mama and Dada – between 5-10 months

If your infant is delayed in achieving any of these milestones you should contact a physician for further testing. While these symptoms do not mean your infant has cerebral palsy, take your child to a qualified physician for testing. The earlier an infant is diagnosed with cerebral palsy the sooner they can begin therapy for the disorder.