Cerebral palsy is actually a term that is used to describe a number of disorders that are caused by the damage of certain areas of the brain, which can affect muscle movements. Cerebral palsy in a person will restrict movement but it does not become severe as the patient advances in age.
Most neurologist, therapist and pediatricians who deal with cerebral palsy patients have come up with different classifications of the disorder based on muscle tone. Anyone who is affected by cerebral palsy has parts of the brain, which control muscle tone damaged to varying degrees. Depending upon the damage there can be increased muscle tone or decreased muscle tone or even a combination of the two which is called fluctuating muscle tone. The parts of the limbs, which are affected, depend upon the damage to the parts of the muscle tone in the brain.
Cerebral palsy can be classified in three main categories, which are Spastic Cerebral Palsy, Athetoid Cerebral Palsy, Ataxic Cerebral Palsy and Mixed cerebral palsy. While in spastic cerebral palsy there is stiffness in the muscles and the patients finds it difficult to move their limbs with ease. In Athetoid cerebral palsy, the movement of the limbs is uncontrolled and involuntary. The patients who suffer from Ataxic cerebral palsy will exhibit symptoms of a disturbed sense of balance and depth perception. Mixed cerebral palsy can be a combination of any of the symptoms of the other three types.
Children with spastic cerebral palsy can have a single or more muscle groups which restrict movement thus causing them to be stiff and jerky in their movement. These children will find it extremely difficult to move from one place to another and need help. They also will not be hold objects in their hands with ease. In all probability they will drop the objects that are placed in their hands.
Athetoid cerebral palsy patients will have bodily movements that are uncontrollable and slow. This is because the muscles are extremely weak and they can go from being limp and floppy one moment second and then to being rigid and tense the next moment. They have distorted facial muscles and would drool all the while because of their inability to control the muscles in their tongue, mouth and throat. This particular type of cerebral palsy is caused because the middle parts of the brain namely the cerebellum or basal ganglion that is damaged.
Ataxic cerebral palsy can be found in only 5 to 10 % of patients suffering from this disorder. Here the symptoms are poor co ordination of muscle movement due to poor muscle tone. The patients would have shaky movements while they walk and even a slight tremor can be seen in their body. Ataxic cerebral palsy is caused due to the damage to the cerebellum, which is present at the base of the brain leaving the muscle tone to be very poor.
In mixed cerebral palsy, the patients can have a combination of symptoms of any of the above categories. Around 10% of children will exhibit this type of palsy. Her many areas if the brain can be damaged so the patient will exhibit different types of symptoms.
Melvin Kops, the author of many articles regarding health, nutrition and medicine is an expert in his field. Well qualified in medicine, Kops has been writing about various diseases like cerebral palsy their causes and their possible cures. Having a keen interest in writing, Kops has coupled his knowledge of medicine with his flair of writing to dispense information about various diseases and cures.
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