Guidance for Cerebral Palsy

 A group of disorders that affect movement and muscle tone or postures called Cerebral Palsy.It causes damage to the immature brain during developing stage, most often before birth.The Signs and symptoms of cerebral Palsy appear during baby’s birth, or during the first 3- 5 years of life, it is the damage that is problem that affects muscle tone, movement, and motor skills of the child.

People affected with cerebral palsy can have problems swallowing the food and experience eye muscle imbalance, in which the eyes cannot focus on the same object, also due to muscle stiffness they have reduced range of motion at various joints of their bodies.

Cerebral palsy's effect on function of the body which varies from person to person. greatly. Some patients can walk properly whereas some need assistance. Some of them can show normal intellect that is they can do some activities whereas others face intellectual disabilities. E.g.Some of them suffer from Epilepsy, blindness or deafness.

Cerebral palsy can affect the whole body of a person, or it might be limited some part of the body such as one limb or one side of the body. The brain disorder causing cerebral palsy is not affected with the time, so the symptoms usually don't worsen with age.

Some symptoms might become apparent as the child gets older.Some children suffer from neurological problems like difficulty seeing and hearing, Intellectual disabilities, Seizures, abnormal touch or pain perceptions, Oral diseases, Mental health conditions, Urinary incontinence etc

The cause of Cerebral palsy is due to abnormality or disruption in brain development, most probably before child birth where the reason is unknown. Factors that can lead to problems with brain development include Gene mutation, Maternal infections, Fetalstroke, Bleeding into the brain, infant infections, traumatic head injury and lack of oxygen.

Signs and symptoms can vary from person to person as regards to movement and coordination problems associated with cerebral palsy like variations in muscle tone, either stiff or floppy, plasticity, Stiff muscles with normal reflexes (rigidity), Lack of balance and muscle coordination (ataxia), Tremors or involuntary movements, Unable to control head, Delays in motor development, Difficulty feeding and sucking and swallowing , Lying in awkward positions, easily startled, Delay in crawling, walking, pushing up on all fours, Favoring of one hand over the other,  Abnormal crawling, Plasticity that is abnormal stiffness and contraction of muscles,Motor impairment that is difficulty with writing and other coordinated tasks, Involuntary movements, Slow overall development, Difficulty with speech, hearing, or vision, Difficulty with perception or sensation, Inability to control bladder and bowels, Breathing difficulties etc

 

It's important to get a prompt diagnosis for a movement disorder or delays in your child's development. You need to visit a child's doctor if you have concerns like the patients suffers loss of awareness, abnormal bodily movements, abnormal muscle tone, impaired coordination, difficulty in swallowing, imbalance in eye muscles other developmental issues.

Prevention in most cases of cerebral palsy can't be prevented, but you can work to reduce the risks. If you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant, you can ensure to stay healthy and minimize pregnancy complications by getting  vaccinated against diseases such as rubella thereby preventing an infection that could cause fetal brain damage, taking self-care, seeking prenatal care, avoid alcohol.

Doctors diagnose cerebral palsy by using several tests like EEG, Mendicant determine the severity of cerebral palsy.Intelligence tests often are administered to a child with Cerebral Palsy to evaluate mental impairment.

Physical therapy helps the patient in movement and balance, so some patients walk independently and use mobility aids, such as wheelchairs and walking aids. The therapy also helps strengthen muscles and joints, reinforcing a child's stability and positioning.

Physical therapists support their child’s movement development by providinghands-on training for positioning, movement, feeding, play, and self-calming also they suggest changes to encourage movement development as well as communication, hearing, vision, and play skillet so that the child learn many skills

At PhysioKare you will feel at home as we have developed an individual program of fun play activities that match your child’s specific needs and the goal is to improve strength, movement, and function.