Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy is a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to move and maintain balance and posture. It is caused by damage to the developing brain, often before or during birth, which affects the muscle control and coordination. This condition primarily involves the nervous system, specifically the brain areas responsible for movement. People with Cerebral Palsy may experience stiffness, weakness, or involuntary movements, which can impact their ability to walk, talk, or perform daily activities. The symptoms vary widely, ranging from mild to severe, and often include difficulties with motor skills and sometimes with sensation or cognition.

Cerebral Palsy is a non-progressive neurological disorder caused by an insult to the immature brain, typically occurring in the prenatal, perinatal, or early postnatal period. The core pathology involves damage to the motor cortex, basal ganglia, or cerebellum, leading to permanent impairments in movement and posture. The most common causes include hypoxic-ischemic injury, intraventricular hemorrhage, and periventricular leukomalacia. Clinically, it is characterized by abnormal muscle tone (spasticity, dystonia, or ataxia), impaired voluntary movement, and often associated with intellectual disability, seizures, or sensory deficits. The disorder is classified into subtypes based on the predominant motor abnormality and distribution, such as spastic, dyskinetic, or ataxic types. Despite the static nature of the brain injury, symptoms may evolve as the child grows.