Nearly 15 to 20 percent of total handicapped children in India suffer from Cerebral Palsy, according to an article published in the PubMed Central Journal list Jan-March 2013. Cerebral Palsy refers to movement or postural disorders caused due to damage to the developing brain before or at the time of birth. See a child specialist if you notice any postural or movement anomalies in your child for early diagnosis.
Types of Cerebral Palsy
It has been classified according to the type and also according to the body area that it affects.
Classification According to Type
Classification According to Affected Body Part
The sign of the disease starts to show as early as 12-18 months of life unless it is very mild. Some children with cerebral palsy might not have any issue at all while other may have a host of them. Early intervention helps those affected, to reach their full potential. Seek medical advice for early diagnosis at a specialty child care hospital. There is no cure of this disease but treatment can lead to improved quality of life.
How Does Physiotherapy Helps?
Physiotherapy in CP patients can help to take care of stiffness of muscles and joints, helps to improve balance, stability, symmetry and control of movement. It also helps in development of gross motor skills, improved posture ultimately leading to improved confidence ad quality of life. After the therapy of children with cerebral palsy lasting for half a year, a statistically significant improvement in both Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) were achieved, according to a study published in the biomedjournal which was performed on 30 patients.
Apart from physiotherapy, children with CP may require speech therapy, occupational therapy, medication to treat stiffness and in some cases surgery as well. Some of the best treatment for CP are available in various child hospitals across India.
Types of Cerebral Palsy
It has been classified according to the type and also according to the body area that it affects.
Classification According to Type
- Spastic – increased muscle tone called stiff muscle.
- Athetoid, Dyskinetic or Dystonic – difficulty in controlling muscle and posture.
- Axatic – problems with balance and control and on selectivity of movements.
- Mixed – combination of all of the above
Classification According to Affected Body Part
- Quadriplegia – movement difficulties with the limb
- Hemiplegia – problems with movement of one side of the body
- Diplegia – difficulties with movements in legs. May also have difficulty ion movements with fine dextrous movements of the hand.
- Monoplegia – problems with one limb
The sign of the disease starts to show as early as 12-18 months of life unless it is very mild. Some children with cerebral palsy might not have any issue at all while other may have a host of them. Early intervention helps those affected, to reach their full potential. Seek medical advice for early diagnosis at a specialty child care hospital. There is no cure of this disease but treatment can lead to improved quality of life.
How Does Physiotherapy Helps?
Physiotherapy in CP patients can help to take care of stiffness of muscles and joints, helps to improve balance, stability, symmetry and control of movement. It also helps in development of gross motor skills, improved posture ultimately leading to improved confidence ad quality of life. After the therapy of children with cerebral palsy lasting for half a year, a statistically significant improvement in both Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) were achieved, according to a study published in the biomedjournal which was performed on 30 patients.
Apart from physiotherapy, children with CP may require speech therapy, occupational therapy, medication to treat stiffness and in some cases surgery as well. Some of the best treatment for CP are available in various child hospitals across India.
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