Medical Conditions Associated with Cerebral Palsy
Types of Cerebral Palsy
These are three main types of
cerebral palsy which are Pyramidal (Spastic) cerebral palsy,
extrapyramidal (choreo-athetoid) cerebral palsy and another one called
mixed cerebral palsy.
Pyramidal Spastic Cerebral Palsy
Spastic cerebral palsy is the most
common type of cerebral palsy that is why I am going to hit on that
subject first. About 80% of the children with cerebral palsy have this type.
Children with this type of cerebral palsy can have one or more tight
muscle groups thus affecting their movement. They can also have
any one of the following symptoms.
-
Exaggerated stretch
refluxes: When the doctor hits the child's elbow,
knee or ankle with a hammer it extends with a jerk that is much
stronger then normal.
-
Ankle clonus: When
the calf muscles in the leg are stretched out quickly be flexing the
foot upward, in doing this the muscles in the calf and foot rapidly
and rhythmically contract. These rhythmic beats can clearly be
seen and felt. This can also happen when the foot in
intentionally flexed up ward, or when the child is placed in a
standing position.
-
Positive Babinski:
When the foot is stroked from the heel to the toes, the toes
extend and fan outward rather then flexing like they should.
This is only considered abnormal in children over a year old.
-
A tendency to develop
contractures: or abnormal shorting of the muscles and
tendons around a joint, and are caused by tight muscles and lack of
full movement.
-
Persistent primitive
refluxes: Early refluxes (involuntary movements in
response to stimulations such as touch, pressure, or joint movement)
that persists for months or years longer then usual.
Extrapyramidal
(Choreo-athetoid)
Cerebral Palsy
 |
Roughly 10% of children
with cerebral palsy have this type. It is caused by a brain
injury to the cerebellum or basal ganglia. these areas
normally process the signals coming from the motor cortex, which
enables smooth movement and maintained posture.
|
|
Damage to these areas
might cause a child to develop involuntary, meaningless movements
especially in the face, arms and trunk. these movements might
also interfere with the child's ability to speak, feed, reach, grasp
and other skills requiring coordinated movements. Please refer
to my glossary of terms page to help explain in a little more depth
some of the terms I will mention throughout this website.
|
Mixed Cerebral Palsy
As 80% have
what is know as spastic cerebral palsy, only 10% of the children with
cerebral palsy have what is commonly called mixed cerebral palsy.
These children grow up to have the spastic muscle tone of pyramidal
cerebral palsy and the involuntary movements of extra-pyramidal cerebral
palsy. Usually the spastic cerebral palsy is more obvious at
first, with involuntary movements starting when the child is between
nine months and three years of age. |
|
