INTRODUCTION TO CP

Abnormal tone

Cerebral palsy refers to a group of disorders that affect motor and muscular movements of the patient. It is a physical disability caused by an injury to the brain, usually during pregnancy or after birth.

In India, there are approximately 33,000 people with cerebral palsy. Worldwide, the incidence of cerebral palsy is 1 in 500 births. For most people with cerebral palsy, the cause is unknown. There is no known protocol for a set line of treatment or cure.

Types

Predominantly there are three types of cerebral palsy and in each case there are different disability and movement patterns. Movements could be uncontrolled or unpredictable, muscles may be stiff or tight and sometimes people may have tremors.

Associated Impairments

In addition to their motor disability, people with cerebral palsy may have other associated impairments that may include epilepsy, frequent jerks, uncontrolled laughs, and disorders of speech, vision, hearing or intellect.

Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL)

This is another kind of impairment that may happen to people suffering from Cerebral Palsy. It is actually damage to the white matter within the brain near the cerebral ventricles.

•      Periventricular means around or near ventricles
•      Leuko means white
•      Malacia means softening