Abstract
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurodegenerative illness marked by impairments in muscle strength, mobility, and motor abilities that is caused by brain damage during development. Despite suggestive indicators and signs might well be evident at a younger age, the diagnostic aspects of this condition grow with time, and the particular CP condition may be identifiable only after 3-5 years of age. Cognitive physiotherapy (attempting to address muscular tonal anomalies and developing physical and occupational treatments) is part of the treatment, as is the identification as well as management of co-morbidities (which comprise epilepsy, impairment of cognition, vision, hearing, and disturbances of growth and gastrointestinal function). As a result, treatment is interdisciplinary, with the primary care doctor collaborating with a group of rehabilitation-, orthopedic-, psychologic-, as well as personal care professionals.
Introduction
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of conditions that make it hard for a person to move, keep their balance, and stand up straight. The most common motor disability in children is cerebral palsy (CP). Cerebral palsy is a group of long-term conditions that affect how the body moves and how well the muscles work together. “Cerebral” means “brain,” and “palsy” means “paralysis” or “severe trouble using the muscles” (MedlinePlus, 2022). Most kids with CP have it from birth, even though it might not be found until later. CP is not contagious, and there is no way to treat it. However, most children with CP can learn to improve their skills and live useful lives if they are diagnosed and treated early.
CP Comes in Four Main Types
Spastic CP is the most common type. About 80% of people with CP have this type. People with spastic CP have tight muscles and may have trouble moving, keeping their balance, and standing up straight. About 10% of people with CP have dyskinetic CP, also called athetoid or choreoathetosis CP. People with dyskinetic CP have trouble with their arms and legs moving too fast or too slow (March of Dimes, 2022). About 5 percent of people with CP have ataxic CP, the least common type. People with ataxic CP have trouble keeping their balance and moving together. Mixed CP is when two or more types of CP are put together. CP can range from not too bad to very bad. A child with mild CP may have trouble performing activities such as writing or using scissors. Severe CP can make it hard for a child to move, balance, and stand up straight. It can also make it hard for a child to breathe, eat, or talk.
Signs and Symptoms
Muscle tone that is not normal: People with cerebral palsy may have too much muscle tone, which can make their muscles feel stiff. This can hurt them and make it hard for them to move their muscles. Muscle spasms, sudden, uncontrollable muscle contractions, can also be caused by too much muscle tone. Reflexes that are too strong or too weak: People with cerebral palsy may have reflexes that are either too strong or too weak (NIH, 2022). They may also have reflexes that are not coordinated with the rest of their muscles. This can make it hard for them to move their bodies as they want. Wrong posture: Some people with cerebral palsy have the wrong posture. They may be hunched over or have one side of their head up (NIH, 2022). This can hurt and make it hard for them to move around. Unusual walking: Some people with cerebral palsy have an unusual way of walking. They may walk on their toes with their feet turned inward, or they may shuffle. This can hurt them and make it hard for them to walk.
Tremors: Some people with cerebral palsy have tremors. These uncontrollable muscle movements can make moving some parts of the body hard. Many things can cause tremors, such as muscle spasms, seizures, and some medicines (NIH, 2022). People with cerebral palsy can sometimes have seizures. These sudden, uncontrollable movements of the muscles can cause people to lose consciousness. Seizures can be caused by many things, like a bump on the head, a stroke, or an infection. Trouble talking: People with cerebral palsy may have trouble talking. They might have trouble putting words together or speaking in a monotone (NIH, 2022). This can make it hard for them to talk to other people. Problems with fine motor skills: People with cerebral palsy may have trouble with fine motor skills. They might need help with writing or using things like spoons and forks. This can make it hard for them to do things they need to do every day.
Diagnosis
Most often before birth, damage to the developing brain causes cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy can range from mild to very bad. People with cerebral palsy might find it hard to write or use scissors (Yi et al., 2019). They may also have trouble doing things like walking or sitting up straight. Some people who have cerebral palsy cannot talk. Most kids with CP are told they have it before they are three years old. If a child takes longer than usual to sit up, crawl, or walk, this could be an early sign of CP. Some people with CP do not know what caused it. Most of the time, though, it is caused by damage to the developing brain, usually before birth (Yi et al., 2019). This damage could come from: Infections in the mother, like rubella or toxoplasmosis, while she is pregnant, lack of oxygen to the brain during birth, brain bleeds in the newborn period, head injury, infections of the brain, like meningitis, encephalitis, or meningoencephalitis.
No one test can tell for sure if a person has cerebral palsy. Doctors often use more than one test to determine what is wrong (Yi et al., 2019). These can include a physical exam, a review of the child’s medical history, and tests of the child’s motor skills and development. The doctor can see if there are any signs of cerebral palsy during the physical exam. Some of these are abnormal muscle tone, posture, or reflexes. The doctor may also order tests to make sure that the symptoms are not caused by something else. The child’s medical history can tell much about how sick the child is. For example, if the child was born early, this could mean that the brain was hurt during development, which could have led to cerebral palsy. Tests of motor skills and growth can help the doctor figure out how bad the problem is (Yi et al., 2019). Tests of the child’s muscle strength, coordination, and balance may be among these. The doctor may also order imaging tests of the brain, like an MRI, to look for problems in the brain.
Treatment
There is no one therapy for cerebral palsy since each person’s symptoms and level of disability are unique. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and surgery are all possible forms of treatment (MedlinePlus, 2022). Some people with cerebral palsy could also need wheelchairs or other assistance equipment. Physical therapy may assist increase the range of motion, muscular strength, and coordination. Numerous methods, such as massage, exercises, and electrical stimulation, may be used by physical therapists. Occupational therapy may help with daily living tasks and adapted equipment requirements. People with cerebral palsy may acquire new skills and discover methods to carry out regular duties more smoothly with the aid of occupational therapists.
Speech and communication abilities may be improved via speech therapy. Speech therapists may concentrate on enhancing speech clarity and output while instructing in alternate communication forms. Surgery may be necessary in rare circumstances to rectify skeletal abnormalities or loosen up tight muscles. While neurosurgery may be required to address disorders like seizures or hydrocephalus, orthopedic surgery may assist in increasing mobility and function. Wheelchairs and other assistive equipment may help persons with cerebral palsy become more independent. Thanks to these technologies, people can engage in activities they may not otherwise be able to perform. Cerebral palsy has no known cure, but with early intervention and proper care, the majority of affected individuals may enjoy reasonably everyday lives.
How the Disease Affects One’s Life
Many aspects of a person’s life can be impacted by cerebral palsy. Movement, muscle control, and muscle coordination issues may result. It may also result in speech, hearing, vision, and sensation issues. People with cerebral palsy might require assistance with daily tasks like getting dressed, taking a shower, and eating. They might also require assistance with mobility, education, and communication. The brain itself may sustain damage, as well as the nerves that link the brain to the muscles. Numerous factors, such as an infection, trauma, or a lack of oxygen to the brain, can result in this harm (Şahin et al., 2020). The majority of CP patients can lead fulfilling lives. Many children with CP can walk, talk, and engage in most activities with the help of early diagnosis and treatment.
Conclusion
Many aspects of a person’s life can be impacted by cerebral palsy. Movement, muscle control, and muscle coordination issues may result. It may also result in speech, hearing, vision, and sensation issues. People with cerebral palsy might require assistance with daily tasks like getting dressed, taking a shower, and eating (Şahin et al., 2020). They could also need assistance with movement, schooling, and communication. Although cerebral palsy does not become worse with time, the repercussions may. For instance, a toddler who has problems walking could ultimately need a wheelchair.
References
March of Dimes. (2022).Healthy moms, strong babies. March of Dimes. Web.
MedlinePlus. (2022). Cerebral palsy | CP. MedlinePlus. Web.
NIH. (2022). Cerebral palsy: Hope through research. ninds.nih.gov. Web.
Şahin, S., Köse, B., Aran, O. T., Bahadır Ağce, Z., & Kayıhan, H. (2020). The effects of virtual reality on motor functions and daily life activities in unilateral spastic cerebral palsy: A single-blind randomized controlled trial.Games for health journal, 9(1), 45-52. Web.
Yi, Y. G., Jung, S. H., & Bang, M. S. (2019). Emerging issues in cerebral palsy associated with aging: A physiatrist perspective.Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine, 43(3), 241–249. Web.