Spastic Cerebral Palsy Information

Spastic cerebral palsy affects 60 to 80 percent of all cerebral palsy patients; the muscles are stiffly and permanently contracted. Additional types of spastic cerebral palsy are broken down based on which limbs are affected. The spasticity is due to upper motor neuron involvement and may mildly or severely affect motor function. The affected limbs appear stiff and difficult to move.

These limbs are usually underdeveloped and show increased deep tendon reflexes and muscular hypertonicity, weakness and a tendency to contractures. The names given to these types combine a Latin description of affected limbs with the term plegia or paresis, meaning paralyzed or weak. When both legs are affected by spasticity, they may turn in and cross at the knees. As these individuals walk, their legs move awkwardly and stiffly and nearly touch at the knees. This causes a characteristic walking rhythm, known as the scissor gait. Individuals with spastic hemiparesis may also experience hemiparetic tremors, in which uncontrollable shaking affects the limbs on one side of the body. If these tremors are severe, they can seriously impair movement. The word spastic refers to muscle tone being too high or tight which causes stiff and jerky movements.

Types of Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Affected children usually have difficulty moving from one position to another and often cannot easily hold or release objects. However, these rigid movements can often be controlled with drugs, therapy and equipment. If both legs are affected it is called spastic diplegia and walking may be difficult because tight muscles in the hips and legs cause the legs to turn inward and cross at the knees which causes a characteristic walking rhythm known as the scissors gait. If just one side of the body is affected the condition is called spastic hemiplegia and the arm is usually more severely affected than the leg. In cases involving 3 limbs, usually one leg and both arms, then it is referred to as spastic triplegia. Likewise, when spastic cerebral palsy affects only one limb, usually an arm, then it is referred to a spastic monoplegia. Most severe of all is spastic quadriplegia in which all four limbs together the trunk are affected. A spastic quadriplegic child usually will have mental retardation, problems with the muscles controlling the mouth and tongue and difficulty in speaking. Some spastic quadriplegic children also suffer from hemiparetic tremors, in which uncontrollable shaking affects the limbs on one side of the body and impairs normal movement.

	Mild Cerebral Palsy – is difficult to detect Mild Cerebral Palsy indicates that the severity of the brain damage suffered was only significant enough to cause slight impairment. The symptoms of mild cerebral palsy are subtler and not easily recognizable. In cases of mild cerebral palsy, symptoms are not as disruptive, and usually not apparent to the naked eye. Mild Cerebral Palsy
	Spastic Cerebral Palsy – affects 70 to 80 percent of patients Spastic Cerebral Palsy Spastic cerebral palsy refers to the increased tone, or tension, in a muscle. Normal muscles work in pairs. When one group contracts the other group relaxes, allowing free movement in the desired direction. Due to complications in brain-to-nerve-to-muscle communication, the normal ebb and flow of muscle tension is disrupted. Muscles affected by spastic cerebral palsy become active together and block effective movement. Spastic Cerebral Palsy
	Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy – Linked to Diabetes Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy tends to affect the legs of a patient more than the arms. Spastic diplegia cerebral palsy patients have more extensive involvement of the lower extremity than the upper extremity. Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy
	Ataxic Cerebral Palsy – affects 5 to 10 percent of individuals with cerebral palsy Ataxic Cerebral Palsy is caused by damage to the cerebellum, which is in the base of the brain. The cerebellum is the control center for balance and coordination and coordinates the actions for different groups of muscles. Ataxic cerebral palsy therefore affects coordination of movement. Ataxic cerebral palsy usually affects all four limbs and the trunk. Trasylol Information
	Athetoid Cerebral Palsy – 25 percent of cerebral palsy patients are affected Athetoid Cerebral Palsy is a form of athetonia, which is marked by slow, writhing involuntary muscle movement. A mixed muscle tone where some are too high and others too low also characterize Athetoid cerebral palsy. Damage to the basal ganglia, located in the midbrain, is the cause of athetoid cerebral palsy. Ketek Information
	Severe Athetoid Cerebral Palsy – 10 to 20 percent of cerebral palsy patients are affected Severe Athetoid Cerebral Palsy is a strong form of athetonia, which is marked by slow, writhing involuntary muscle movement. A mixed muscle tone where some are too high and others too low also characterizes severe athetoid cerebral palsy. Severe athetoid cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the basal ganglia, located in the midbrain. Approximately 10 to 20 percent of cerebral palsy patients are affected by severe athetoid cerebral palsy. Severe athetoid cerebral palsy can also be referred to as dyskenetic cerebral palsy. Fosamax Information
	Mixed Cerebral Palsy – 10 percent Mixed Cerebral Palsy There are several different forms of cerebral palsy including spastic, athetoid, and ataxic. While each one is devastating in its own way, mixed cerebral palsy combines different types of cerebral palsy along with each individual type's effect. Roughly 10 percent of cerebral palsy patients suffer from mixed cerebral palsy; a combination of two or more types. Fosamax Information
	Hemiplegia & Cerebral Palsy – Hemiplegia is a condition that affects one side of the body in cerebral palsy patients, however it is not exclusive to cerebral palsy. Hemiplegia affects either the right or left side of the body. Hemiplegia is caused by damage to a part of the brain, which can occur before, during, or soon after birth, when it is known as congenital hemiplegia. If it occurs later in childhood (up to age 3), it is called acquired hemiplegia. Fosamax Information
	Quadriplegia & Cerebral Palsy – Quadriplegia is a form of cerebral palsy that is characterized by the lack of the ability to move or feel both arms, both legs, and other parts of the body affected. Quadriplegia in cerebral palsy is caused by an injury to the spinal cord, which sends messages to body parts important for movement and sensation. Spastic quadriplegia is the most severe from of cerebral palsy in which all four limbs and the trunk are affected. Fosamax Information