Cerebral Palsy

Overview

Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that describes conditions affecting movement, balance, and posture. It’s caused by early brain damage or abnormal neurological development during infancy.

Though a lifelong condition, cerebral palsy is not progressive, meaning it does not worsen over time. However, symptoms may change as the brain and body develop.

While the condition primarily affects physical movement and coordination, it can also be associated with challenges with communication, cognition, sensation, and behavior, depending on the areas of the brain involved.

Types of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is categorized based on how it affects movement:

Spastic Cerebral Palsy: The most common form of cerebral palsy, it is characterized by stiff muscles and exaggerated reflexes.
Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy: This form involves involuntary, uncontrolled movements.
Ataxic Cerebral Palsy: Challenges with balance, coordination, and depth perception are the hallmark of ataxic cerebral palsy.
Mixed Cerebral Palsy: This form is a combination of symptoms from multiple types.

What causes cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to or abnormal development of the brain, often occurring before or shortly after birth. For many people with cerebral palsy, the specific cause is not known.

Factors that may contribute to the development of cerebral palsy include:

Lack of oxygen to the brain during pregnancy or delivery
Maternal infections or health conditions
Premature birth or low birth weight
Brain injuries or infections during infancy
Genetic or developmental abnormalities

A majority (85%-90%) of cerebral palsy cases are congenital, or related to brain damage or developmental issues that occurred before or during birth. A smaller number of cases are acquired, resulting from abnormal development or brain damage that occurs more than 28 days after birth.

Request More Information

Call (602) 406-1600

Cerebral Palsy Symptoms

Symptoms vary widely in type and severity and are based on the areas of the brain affected. While severe cases may be apparent at birth, most symptoms become more noticeable within the first one to two years of life.

Common symptoms include:

Stiff muscles (splasticity)
Unusually loose or floppy muscles (hypotonia)
Involuntary movements
Coordination and balance issues
Abnormal posture or gait
Reflex issues
Delayed developmental milestones (poor head control, slow to sit up, crawl, roll over, or walk)

Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis

Diagnosing cerebral palsy often requires a combination of developmental monitoring, physical exams, imaging, and a review of medical history.

Developmental monitoring and screening: Your pediatrician will track growth milestones to identify specific delays in movement and learning.
Physical examination: Doctors evaluate muscle tone, reflexes, posture, and coordination to identify abnormal movement patterns.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the brain that help identify structural brain damage, injuries to the fibers that connect nerve cells within the brain, or developmental abnormalities caused by injury.
CT Scan: These scans use X-rays to produce three-dimensional images of the brain that can help identify brain injuries, structural abnormalities, lesions, death or shrinkage of brain tissue, or infections that may explain cerebral palsy symptoms.
Cranial Ultrasound: This is a non-invasive imaging option often used in infants, especially in neonatal intensive care settings. Cranial ultrasound images can identify early brain injuries that cause motor dysfunction.

Early diagnosis allows for earlier intervention, which can significantly improve long-term outcomes.

Neuro-Rehabilitation Center

Learn More

Cerebral Palsy Treatment

While there is no cure for cerebral palsy, treatment focuses on improving function, independence, and overall quality of life. Care is highly individualized and often involves a team of multiple experts working together.

Nonsurgical Treatments

Doctors treat most cases of cerebral palsy without surgery. Nonsurgical cerebral palsy treatments include:

Physical therapy to improve strength, mobility, and coordination.
Occupational therapy to support daily functions like eating, dressing, and schoolwork.
Speech therapy to help with communication and swallowing.
Medications, like muscle relaxants, can be used to reduce spasticity. Your doctor might prescribe other medications to treat associated conditions like seizures or pain.
Assistive devices like braces, walkers, wheelchairs, and communication devices enhance independence and quality of life.
Focal neurotoxin injections help relieve muscle spasticity by blocking nerve signals to muscles.

Surgical Treatments

For some people, surgery may improve mobility, alignment, or comfort when conservative treatments are not sufficient.

Orthopedic procedures can correct bone and joint abnormalities and include tendon lengthening or realignment.
Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) is a neurosurgical procedure that reduces muscle stiffness by interrupting abnormal nerve signals.
Your doctor may recommend spinal fusion, which improves spinal stability and reduces discomfort for some people with scoliosis.

Find a Specialist

Neuro-Rehabilitation Specialists

Common Questions

How common is cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability in children. In the United States, approximately 1 in 345 children are affected, with about 8,000 new diagnoses each year.

Who gets cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy most often affects infants and young children, particularly those with complications before, during, or shortly after birth. Risk is higher in:

Premature infants (born before 37 weeks)
Babies with low birth weight (under 5.5 pounds)
Multiple births (twins, triplets, or more)

What is the prognosis for someone with cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy can’t be cured, but it also does not get worse over time. With early intervention and ongoing care, many people, especially those with mild to moderate symptoms, can lead active, independent lives. More severe cases may be associated with additional health challenges and reduced life expectancy.