About Cerebral Palsy

The term “cerebral palsy” describes chronic conditions affecting body movement and muscle coordination. “Cerebral” refers to the brain and “palsy” to muscle weakness or poor control.

What are the forms of cerebral palsy?

What parts of the body are affected by cerebral palsy?

Spastic Cerebral Palsy affects different parts of the body.

• Quadriplegia: Both legs and both arms paralyzed or weakened equally
• Diplegia/Bilateral: Both legs affected (and possibly arms to a lesser extent)
• Hemiplegia/Unilateral: One side (arm and leg) affected
• Double Hemiplegia: Both arms affected more than the legs (uncommon)

What causes cerebral palsy?

Some examples of what can cause cerebral palsy include:

• Not enough oxygen reaching the brain of a fetus or newborn
• Head injury, usually the result of motor vehicle accidents, falls, or child abuse
• Drug addiction
• Brain infection
• Other risk factors including premature birth, low birth weight, blood type incompatibility between mother and infant, infection of the mother in early pregnancy, and micro-organisms that attack the infant’s central nervous system

Most causes of cerebral palsy are related to the developmental and childbearing processes and, since the condition is not inherited, the condition is called congenital cerebral palsy.

Can cerebral palsy be prevented?

Can a child with cerebral palsy live a normal life?

Cerebral palsy affects each person in different ways. It is true that some people with cerebral palsy need to be cared for their entire lives through family and caregiver support. However, many adults can live full, independent lives or live mostly independently, only requiring help for specific needs.

There are people with cerebral palsy who:

• • Attend and graduate from high school
  • Attend and graduate from college
  • Have successful careers
  • Have their own families
  • Play and excel at sports, including completing marathons