| It is a devastating experience for many parents | | | | contract, the other group begins to relax and this |
| when they hear from their physicians that their child | | | | gives us free movement in our limbs. But in spastic |
| has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. This one | | | | palsy, the spastic muscles become active at the |
| disorder confuses not only parents but also doctors | | | | same time and this prevents movement and this |
| and that s why most doctors take a long time to | | | | muscular war between the two groups is called |
| diagnose this medical condition. After a thorough | | | | co-contraction. |
| testing, the physician should be able to tell the | | | | There are three types of spastic cerebral palsy and |
| parents what type of the disorder is affecting the | | | | they are spastic diplegia, spastic hemiplegia and |
| child. | | | | spastic quadriplegia. When a child is diagnosed as |
| Cerebral palsy occurs due to damage of the part of | | | | having spastic diplegia then the child finds that their |
| the brain that can cause poor muscle coordination | | | | hip and leg muscles are tight and their legs are |
| and body movement. Brain development in a baby | | | | crossed at the knees thus making it very difficult for |
| starts right from the time of pregnancy till the time | | | | the child to walk. This kind of condition is known as |
| they reach three, and depending upon the damage | | | | "scissoring" or "scissors gait". |
| that has occurred in their brains, babies can be | | | | In spastic hemiplegia, the child experiences stiffness |
| classified as having different types of palsy. There | | | | on only one side of his body and at times it is the |
| are many types of cerebral palsy and spastic cerebral | | | | arms and hands that are more affected then the |
| palsy is the most common type found in many | | | | legs. The arms and legs, which are on the affected |
| children. | | | | side, have no normal growth and need the help of leg |
| Parents should remember that cerebral palsy is not a | | | | braces to enable him or her to walk. |
| progressive disorder that is it does not worsen as | | | | In spastic quadriplegia, which is the most severe of |
| one ages. It is certainly not contagious or due to | | | | the three a child who is affected by this disorder will |
| hereditary factors and most definitely not life | | | | be mentally, retarded in addition to having their limbs |
| threatening. When a child has been diagnosed as | | | | also affected. Not only will the child experience |
| having spastic cerebral palsy, it means that your child | | | | seizures it will also be difficult for the child to speak, |
| has stiff muscles, which tend to become tight too. | | | | eat and move with ease. |
| They show remarkable resistance when they are | | | | Spastic cerebral palsy can be treated with the help of |
| stretched. At times when they are overactive, they | | | | therapy, medications and even surgery. Children with |
| cause the child to put forth or exhibit clumsy | | | | this disorder would do well to learn music and dance |
| movements. In normal people, muscles tend to work | | | | therapy, yoga, physical therapy so that they become |
| in pairs. When one group of muscles begins to | | | | better. |