Effects of Cerebral Palsy

Effects of Cerebral Palsy

Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy depend on the where the damage is in the brain and surface area affected. Severity can vary from person to person, some people will have mild symptoms others will be severely disabled. Cerebral palsy can affect muscles in the whole body (quadriplegia), just the legs (diplegia), one side of the body (hemiplegia) or just one limb (monoplegia).

Types of Cerebral Palsy and Symptoms:

• Spastic- this is where the muscles are weak but permanently contracted resulting in stiff muscles that are hard to move. This can cause normal function to be difficult such as standing, walking, holding and releasing objects.
• Dyskinetic- this is where the muscles vary from high to low tone unconsciously, meaning they can be stiff and then floppy, this can cause random uncontrolled movements or involuntary spasms.
• Ataxic- this is where the patients balance and co-ordination is reduced resulting in clumsy and jerky movements. Hand tremors can also occur.
• Mixed Cerebral Palsy- when a person has features of more than one of the categories above.

To book an assessment or for more information please email office@manchesterneurophysio.co.uk call 0161 883 0066 .