Also called: Also called: CP
Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to move and to maintain balance and posture. The disorders appear in the first few years of life. Usually they do not get worse over time. People with cerebral palsy may have difficulty walking. They may also have trouble with tasks such as writing or using scissors. Some have other medical conditions, including seizure disorders or mental impairment.
Cerebral palsy happens when the areas of the brain that control movement and posture do not develop correctly or get damaged. Early signs of cerebral palsy usually appear before 3 years of age. Babies with cerebral palsy are often slow to roll over, sit, crawl, smile or walk. Some babies are born with cerebral palsy; others get it after they are born.
There is no cure for cerebral palsy, but treatment can improve the lives of those who have it. Treatment includes medicines, braces, and physical, occupational and speech therapy.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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Cerebral Palsy(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation) - http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1208.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.nacersano.org/centro/9388_9965.asp
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Cerebral Palsy
(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/cerebralpalsy/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/cerebralpalsyspanish/htm/index.htm -
Cerebral Palsy -- Hope through Research
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cerebral_palsy/detail_cerebral_palsy.htm
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/trastornos/paralisiscerebral.htm
- Cerebral Palsy(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/cerebral-palsy/DS00302/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
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Cerebral Palsy(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cerebral_palsy/cerebral_palsy.htm
- Data Show 1 in 278 Children Have Cerebral Palsy(03/16/2009, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/Features/CerebralPalsy/
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Learn the Signs -- Act Early: Cerebral Palsy(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - Links to PDF - http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/pdf/parents_pdfs/CerebralPalsyFactSheet.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/ActEarly/spanish/cerebral_palsy.html
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Botulinum Toxin Injections: A Treatment for Muscle Spasms(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/articles/017.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/articles/017.printerview.html
- Exercise Principles and Guidelines for Persons with Cerebral Palsy and Neuromuscular Disorders(United Cerebral Palsy Associations) - http://www.ucp.org/ucp_channeldoc.cfm/1/15/11500/11500-11500/639
- Disabilities and Housing(United Cerebral Palsy Associations) - http://www.ucp.org/ucp_channel.cfm/1/13
- Dressing with Ease, Style and Comfort(ALS Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.alsa.org/files/cms/Resources/FYI_07_Dressing.pdf
- Employees with Cerebral Palsy(Office of Disability Employment Policy) - http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/CP.html
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Hypertonia(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/hypertonia/hypertonia.htm
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Spasticity(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/spasticity/spasticity.htm
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Cerebral Palsy(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/cerebralpalsy/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/cerebralpalsyspanish/htm/index.htm
- Atlas of the Body: The Brain -- Lobes(American Medical Association) - http://www.medem.com/medlib/article/ZZZR9WH46JC
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Cerebral Palsy(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Cerebral+Palsy%22
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Therapeutic effects of strengthening exercise on gait function of cerebral... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19230216&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Random perturbation: a potential aid in treatment of children with... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19230215&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Role of perinatal inflammation in cerebral palsy. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19218029&tool=MedlinePlus
- Cerebral Palsy -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=cerebral+palsy[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Glossary & Definitions(United Cerebral Palsy Associations) - http://www.ucp.org/ucp_generalsub.cfm/1/9/36
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March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation - http://www.marchofdimes.com/
Also available in Spanish http://www.nacersano.org/
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/
- United Cerebral Palsy(United Cerebral Palsy Associations) - http://www.ucp.org/
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Cerebral Palsy(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/brain/cerebral_palsy.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/kid/en_espanol/enfermadades/cerebral_palsy_esp.html
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Cerebral Palsy(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/cerebral_palsy.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/medicos/cerebral_palsy_esp.html
- Hemiplegia in Children(Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Association) - http://www.chasa.org/hemiplegia.htm
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Cerebral Palsy(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/brain_nervous/story_cerebral_palsy.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/enfermedades/story_cerebral_palsy_esp.html
- Aging and Cerebral Palsy(United Cerebral Palsy Associations) - http://www.ucp.org/ucp_generaldoc.cfm/1/8293/8304/8304-8304/5680
- Brain and Nerves - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/brainandnerves.html
- Genetics/Birth Defects - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/geneticsbirthdefects.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Cerebral Palsy is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/