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= Cerebral Palsy =



Q&A What is Cerebral Palsy? Cerebral Palsy is a loss or lack of motor control with involuntary spasms caused by permanent brain damage present at birth. This disease affects muscle control, and the brain cannot properly control movement and interaction.

What causes Cerebral Palsy? There are many factors taken into consideration when determining whether a person has cerebral palsy. A physician will examine for cerebral palsy, by the mothers and child's medical history, and the symptoms present. Some children acquire this disease after birth, whereas many more cases are caused by a complication during birth or even pregnancy. Cerebral Palsy is caused by brain damage in the first few months or years of a person's life.

What age range does this disease most affect? Cerebral Palsy is commonly present in infants and becomes fully apparent around the age of three. Once diagnosed with cerebral palsy there is no cure, although there are methods used to decrease and assist the symptoms that one may experience.

What Types of Cerebral Palsy are there? 1. Spastic Cerebral Palsy
 * This is the most common type of cerebral palsy. The muscles are rigid and they become jerky, which causes the person to have difficulties getting around.
 * 1) //Spastic Diplegia//: Leg and hip muscles are tight, legs cross at knee making it difficult to walk. movement is refereed to as "scissoring"
 * 2) //Spastic Hemiplegia//**:** Only one side of the body is stiff. Arms or Hands might be affected more than legs. The affected side thearm and leg may not develop normally. May require leg braces.
 * 3) //Spastic Quadriplegia//**:** This is the severest of the three. Associated with mental retardation. Arms, legs, and body are affected. Difficulties with walking, talking, and may also experience seizures.

2. Athetoid Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy 3. Ataxic Cerebral Palsy  4. Hypotonic Cerebral Palsy 5. Mixed Cerebral Palsy
 * Second most diagnosed type of Cerebral Palsy.
 * Does not affect normal intelligence, but the body is totally affected by muscle problems. Muscle tone can be weak or tight. Trouble walking, sitting, or speaking. May experience trouble controlling facial muscles causing drooling.
 * Least common type of Cerebral Palsy
 * Experience trouble tying shoes, buttoning shirt, cutting with scissors, and doing other tasks that require motor skills. May walk with abnormal space between feet, causing trouble balancing and coordination. May experience tremors.
 * A baby would have muscle control problems early in life.
 * Head may seem floppy and uncontrollable
 * Motor skills development will be delayed.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">﻿If the physician can not determine which type of Cerebral Palsy then the doctor may take into consideration "mixed" cerebral palsy which is common.

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace; font-size: 140%;">Is the disease fatal? This disease is not completely fatal if precaution is taken and early diagnosis are established in the child's early stages of life.

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace; font-size: 140%;">Symptoms: <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Muscles become tight and they becomes difficult to stretch <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Abnormal walk <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Abnormal movement <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Joints become tighter and do not open

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Muscle weakness <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Paralyzation <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Tumors <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Loss of coordination <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Speech impediment <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Pain <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Seizures <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Drooling

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace; font-size: 140%;">Diagnosis: A physician would test Motor skills, Posture, Muscle Examination, Reflexes, Responsiveness, and preform a Gait analysis.

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace; font-size: 140%;">Medical Treatments: Medical Treatments may vary for this disease such as Rehabilitation and Therapy to help the brain stimulate everyday activities. Physical therapy is a must because it can help improve the strength in muscles and improve mobility. Medications can reduce the muscle spasms and tightness. Braces, surgery, and hearing aids may assist a patient for a healthier life.

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace; font-size: 140%;">Home Remedies/Alternative Medicine:
 * Apple Cider Vinegar
 * Antioxidants such as herbal plants for muscle strength

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace; font-size: 140%;">Systems & Organs the Disease Affects: Cerebral Palsy affects the brain and nervous system.

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace; font-size: 140%;">How does it affect those Systems/Organs? There is typically a malfunction during the birth of a child. There could be a lack of oxygen to the brain and or sever trauma causing these organs to not corporate correctly.

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace; font-size: 140%;">Facts!: Once diagnosed with this disease a person one may not fully recover, but the symptoms do not increase in severeness.

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Sources: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Http:www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cerebralpalsy.htm

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://effectiverehabilitation.info/wp-content/gallery/euromed/cerebral_p.jpg&imgrefurl=http://effectiverehabilitation.info/%3Fp%3D9&usg=__28JxG9kb6ivN-5DrRwHOzjhEogw=&h=333&w=434&sz=37&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=a4M_cS4kger6PM:&tbnh=130&tbnw=169&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcerebral%2Bpalsy%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1268%26bih%3D607%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C133&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=327&vpy=130&dur=16&hovh=197&hovw=256&tx=127&ty=110&ei=GmYLTZfDI4GC8ga8xcXcDQ&oei=GmYLTZfDI4GC8ga8xcXcDQ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0&biw=1268&bih=607Miller,

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Freeman, and Steven J. Bachrach. Cerebral Palsy: a Complete Guide for Caregiving. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Baltimore: John Hopkins UP, 2006 Print.