Since being recognised by Dr William John Little in 1853, medical professionals from every corner of the globe have dedicated their lives to understanding, treating and managing people with cerebral palsy.
With one in every 500 births resulting in a cerebral palsy diagnosis each year in Australia, cerebral palsy remains the most common form of childhood disability [1].
As we learn more about the condition, the need for early intervention and a multidisciplinary treatment plan continues to grow.
What is cerebral palsy?
There are 34,000 Australians living with some form of cerebral palsy [2], each with different severities and classifications.
Put simply, cerebral palsy is a brain injury which often occurs in utero, during birth or in the first months of life. The injury required to sustain cerebral palsy almost always happens in early childhood, with symptoms of cerebral palsy becoming obvious over the first years of life.
The symptoms of cerebral palsy are different for each person, but almost always will affect the muscle tone, motor skills and/or physical abilities of the person.
There are different types of cerebral palsy, including:
- Spastic
- Dyskinetic
- Ataxia
- Hypotonic
- Mixed
Often people will also have sub-diagnoses which relate to the extent the cerebral palsy impacts their bodily movements. This includes:
- Quadriplegia (all four limbs affected)
- Diplegia (both legs are affected)
- Hemiplegia (one side of the body is affected)
Types of cerebral palsy
- Spastic Cerebral Palsy
Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common form of the condition, affecting almost 80 per cent of people with cerebral palsy.
Symptoms of spastic cerebral palsy vary depending on the severity of the injury. In general, spastic cerebral palsy symptoms include weak and stiff muscles which make movement hard.
Spastic cerebral palsy can affect:
- All muscles on one side of the body
- Just the arms
- Just the legs
- Every muscle in the body
People with spastic cerebral palsy can also have issues communicating and swallowing.
- Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy
Dyskinetic cerebral palsy can occur alongside spasticity or on its own and is the second most common form or cerebral palsy.
People with dyskinetic cerebral palsy likely have variable, involuntary movements of their limbs and muscles.
Dyskinetic cerebral palsy symptoms include:
- Repetitive movements
- Twisting and slow movements
- Unpredictable and irregular movements
- Ataxic Cerebral Palsy
Ataxia is the medical definition for the loss of full control of body movements. People with ataxic cerebral palsy will have difficulty maintaining their balance and often display an overall jerky or unstable motion when walking and moving. It can affect the limbs, speech and eyes of people with the condition.
Ataxic cerebral palsy is one of the least common form of the condition, making up six percent of the cerebral palsy population, [3] but when present the symptoms include:
- Unsteady movements, shaking or tremors
- Difficulty maintaining balance
- Lack of coordination
- Overall balance and depth perception inhibited
- Hypotonic Cerebral Palsy
Hypotonic cerebral palsy is considered the rarest form of the condition. People with hypotonic cerebral palsy experience symptoms including:
- Low muscle tone
- Excessive flexibility
- Poor stability
- Mixed Cerebral Palsy
Mixed cerebral palsy is when a person displays all or some of the symptoms from one or more of the above types. It is not uncommon for people with one form of cerebral palsy to also have symptoms of other forms, which is called mixed type cerebral palsy – for example ataxic hypotonic cerebral palsy.
Daily life with a cerebral palsy diagnosis
Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition and to-date there is no cure. Because cerebral palsy is caused by an injury to the brain, it is uncommon for it to worsen over time, however people may see or feel more symptoms as a result of the condition as they age.
For babies diagnosed, early physical intervention is an important component of increasing motor development and physical function. Working with a physiotherapist early can support movements such as crawling and walking later in life.
Living with cerebral palsy can often present challenges with daily activities, including things as simple as writing and texting, as well as personal care and getting out into the community. This is why working with a multidisciplinary care team will be an important factor in the life of a person with cerebral palsy.
Managing cerebral palsy
There will always be a need for multidisciplinary management of cerebral palsy throughout each stage of a person’s life. From infancy, right through to retirement, there are many benefits to engaging with allied health professionals, including physiotherapists for support.
Physiotherapy can help at every stage of a person’s diagnosis. Whether your toddler needs help learning to walk, you want to move out of home and have more physical independence, or you need support managing your condition in old age, the team at Valens Care can help.
We’ll take the time to understand your personal requirements and develop a tailored plan to support you.
Book an appointment with us today.
Disclaimers:
DISCLAIMER FOR GENERAL/BROAD HEALTH CARE ADVICE THAT DOESN’T INVOLVE A TREATMENT OR PROCEDURE
All information is general and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Valens Care can consult with you regarding your individual health needs.
References:
[1] Kids Health Information : Cerebral palsy (rch.org.au)[2] Media release from the Minister – NDIS Improving lives of Australians with cerebral palsy | NDIS
[3] Ataxic Cerebral Palsy – Cerebral Palsy Alliance