Cerebral Palsy
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What is Cerebral Palsy?
Is there any treatment?
What is the prognosis?
What research is being done?
Organizations
Related NINDS Publications and Information
Publicaciones en Español
Additional resources from MEDLINEplus
What is Cerebral Palsy?
The term cerebral palsy refers to any one of a number of neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement and muscle coordination but don’t worsen over time. Even though cerebral palsy affects muscle movement, it isn’t caused by problems in the muscles or nerves. It is caused by abnormalities in parts of the brain that control muscle movements. The majority of children with cerebral palsy are born with it, although it may not be detected until months or years later. The early signs of cerebral palsy usually appear before a child reaches 3 years of age. The most common are a lack of muscle coordination when performing voluntary movements (ataxia); stiff or tight muscles and exaggerated reflexes (spasticity); walking with one foot or leg dragging; walking on the toes, a crouched gait, or a “scissored” gait; and muscle tone that is either too stiff or too floppy. A small number of children have cerebral palsy as the result of brain damage in the first few months or years of life, brain infections such as bacterial meningitis or viral encephalitis, or head injury from a motor vehicle accident, a fall, or child abuse.
Is there any treatment? Cerebral palsy can’t be cured, but treatment will often improve a child's capabilities. Many children go on to enjoy near-normal
adult lives if their disabilities are properly managed. In general, the earlier treatment begins the better chance children
have of overcoming developmental disabilities or learning new ways to accomplish the tasks that challenge them. Treatment
may include physical and occupational therapy, speech therapy, drugs to control seizures, relax muscle spasms, and alleviate
pain; surgery to correct anatomical abnormalities or release tight muscles; braces and other orthotic devices; wheelchairs
and rolling walkers; and communication aids such as computers with attached voice synthesizers.
What is the prognosis?
What research is being done? Researchers are investigating the roles of mishaps early in brain development, including genetic defects, which are sometimes
responsible for the brain malformations and abnormalities that result in cerebral palsy. Scientists are also looking at traumatic
events in newborn babies’ brains, such as bleeding, epileptic seizures, and breathing and circulation problems, which can
cause the abnormal release of chemicals that trigger the kind of damage that causes cerebral palsy. To make sure children
are getting the right kinds of therapies, studies are also being done that evaluate both experimental treatments and treatments
already in use so that physicians and parents have valid information to help them choose the best therapy.
Select this link to view a list of studies currently seeking patients.
United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) 1660 L Street, NW Suite 700 Washington, DC 20036 national@ucp.org http://www.ucp.org Tel: 202-776-0406 800-USA-5UCP (872-5827) Fax: 202-776-0414 |
Pathways Awareness Foundation
[For Children With Movement Difficulties] 150 N. Michigan Avenue Suite 2100 Chicago, IL 60601 friends@pathwaysawareness.org http://www.pathwaysawareness.org Tel: 312-893-6620 800-955-CHILD (2445) Fax: 312-893-6621 |
March of Dimes Foundation 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue White Plains, NY 10605 askus@marchofdimes.com http://www.marchofdimes.com Tel: 914-428-7100 888-MODIMES (663-4637) Fax: 914-428-8203 |
Easter Seals 230 West Monroe Street Suite 1800 Chicago, IL 60606-4802 info@easterseals.com http://www.easterseals.com Tel: 312-726-6200 800-221-6827 Fax: 312-726-1494 |
Children's Neurobiological Solutions (CNS) Foundation 1826 State Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101 info@cnsfoundation.org http://www.cnsfoundation.org Tel: 866-CNS-5580 (267-5580) 805-898-4442 |
Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Assocn. (CHASA) 4101 West Green Oaks Blvd., Ste. 305 PMB 149 Arlington, TX 76016 info437@chasa.org http://www.hemi-kids.org Tel: 817-492-4325 |
United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) Research & Educational Foundation 1025 Connecticut Avenue Suite 701 Washington, DC 20036 national@ucp.org http://www.ucpresearch.org Tel: 202-496-5060 800-USA-5UCP (872-5827) Fax: 202-776-0414 |
Pedal with Pete
[For Research on Cerebral Palsy] P.O. Box 274 Kent, OH 44240 petezeid@aol.com http://www.pedalwithpete.com Tel: 800-304-PETE (7383) Fax: 330-673-1240 |
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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Last updated September 10, 2008