What is cerebral palsy

I have cerebral palsy and some of my online friends have been asking me about the condition. They want to learn more about it and I want to answer their questions because it‘s part of my life and I want teach people about it, so here’s an informative article about the disability. Cerebral palsy or CP is a condition that caused by brain damage during or around the time of birth. It affects muscle control in the limbs and other motor skills. There are different degrees in severity and CP is divided into three classifications. Spastic CP is the most common type. Spasticity relates to poor movement of the muscles.

Spastic hemiplegia is when one side of the body is affected. Injury to the muscle-nerves controlled by the left side of the brain will cause a right body defect and vice versa. Usually, people with spastic hemiplegia can still walk, although they generally have dynamic equinus, a condition that causes limited upward bending in the ankle. To prevent equinus, doctors prescribe ankle-foot orthotic braces.

Spastic diplegia is when the lower extremities affected with little to no upper-body spasticity. This is most common form of spastic CP. Most people with spastic diplegia are able to walk and have a scissors gait. Flexed knees and hips to certain degrees are common. In three-quarters of people with deiplegia can also have strabismus (crossed eyes) and these individuals are often nearsighted.

Spastic quadriplegia is when all four limbs affected equally. People with spastic quadriplegia are the least likely to be able to walk because their muscles are too tight. Some with quadriplegia also have hemiparetic tremors, an uncontrollable shaking that affects the limbs on one side of the body and impairs typical movements. Speech problems are associated with spasticity as well, along with poor respiratory control and restricted movement in the oral-facial muscles. I have spastic quadriplegia. I use a wheelchair and my speech is very slurred. I was diagnosed when I was a toddle and I've been getting medical assitance, such medicine, surgeries, and physical therapy.


Secondary conditions of CP can include seizures, eating problems, sensory and mental impairments, learning disabilities, and/ or behavior disorders. Although these secondary symptoms are common, not everyone have them. Everyone is different. The most often misconception about people with CP is that they are less intelligent than those born without CP. CP is defined as damage to the part of brain that controls movement, not areas of the brain that controls a person's intelligence.

I think that people should learn about all disabilities, including cerebral palsy. People should be open-minded. Knowledge could be closer to cures. I hope that this article was hopeful.


Resources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_palsy#Spastic

http://www.healthline.com/adamcontent/cerebral-palsy#definition

http://www.footphysicians.com/footankleinfo/Equinus.htm#1