Cerebral Palsy

Question 1

What causes cerebral palsy?

Answer 1

Brain injury during pregnancy, shortly after birth, or within the first two years of life

Question 2

What are the different forms of cerebral palsy?

Answer 2

Spastic
* Stiff and tight muscles
* Arises from motor cortex damage

Diskinetic
* Involuntary movements
* Arises from basal ganglia damage

Ataxic
* Shaky movements and impaired sense of balance and positioning in space
* Arises from cerebellum damage

Question 3

In spastic cerebral palsy, what are dystonia and athetosis?

Answer 3

Dystonia
* Involuntary movements
* Unusual twisting movements
* Repetitive movements

Athetosis
* Slow, continuous, involuntary writhing movements that happen at rest
* Made worse by attempts to move

Question 4

Is cerebral palsy curable?

Answer 4

No

Question 5

What are some symptoms of cerebral palsy?

Answer 5

Delayed achievement of movement milestones
* Sitting
* Rolling
* Crawling
* Walking

Abnormal gait
Abnormal movements
Floppy muscles
* Especially at rest

Dysphagia
Vomiting or constipation
Increased drooling
Irregular breathing
Urinary incontinence