Disease Spotlight: Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy is a congenital disorder of movement, muscle tone, and/or posture. Treatments can help, but this
condition has no cure to date. You must be diagnosed by a medical doctor. This chronic condition is due to abnormal
brain development, often before birth or injury to the brain after birth within the first 5 years of life. You
will see people with cerebral palsy have symptoms like exaggerated reflexes, floppy or rigid limbs, and involuntary
motions. Life-long treatment includes physical and other therapies, medications, and sometimes surgery.
iPain Living Magazine — 23
Symptoms Include
Chronic Pain
Constipation
Difficulty Swallowing
Difficulty Walking
Difficulty With Bodily
Movements
Drooling
Drop Foot
Hearing Loss
Involuntary Movements
Leaking Of Urine
Learning Disability
Muscle Rigidity
Muscle Spasms
Muscle Weakness
Overactive Reflexes
Paralysis
Permanent Shortening Of
Muscle
Physical Deformity
Problems With Coordination
Scissor Gait
Seizures
Slow Growth
Spastic Gait
Speech Disorder Or Stuttering
Stiff Muscles
Teeth Grinding
Tremor
Treatments Depends
On Severity
Gastrostomy
Muscle Relaxant
Occupational Therapy
Physical Exercise
Physical Therapy
Sedative
Self-Care
Special Education
Stretching
Specialists Who Can
Treat Cerebral Palsy
Neurologist
Occupational Therapist
Orthopedic Surgeon
Pediatric Neurologist
Physical Therapist
Primary Care Provider (PCP)
Speech Therapist
Green is the color used for
cerebral palsy awareness.