Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture, according the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Cerebral palsy is not a disease but a result of a brain injury or abnormal brain development. Whatever the cause, the damage to the outer area of the brain may occur before, during, or shortly after birth. CP, typically diagnosed by age 2, is a permanent and non-life-threatening condition. Symptoms vary by the type of movement impairment involved. Below is a summary of each type of cerebral palsy.
CP can affect motor function and muscle control in different ways. Below are some terms as defined by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke that should serve to familiarize you with the four types of CP :
- "spasticity" means stiff muscles
- "dyskinesia" means uncontrollable movements
- "ataxia" means poor balance and coordination
- "plegia" means paralysis
- "paresis" means weakness
- "hemi" means half
- "quad" means four
- "di" means two
Spastic Cerebral Palsy
Spastic CP is the most common type of cerebral palsy. It is often associated with unnatural movements and stiff muscles due to excessive muscle tone. With this type, intelligence is usually not affected but many patients experience other conditions such as seizures and scoliosis, a spinal deformity.
Spastic cerebral palsy is classified by doctors according to the regions of the body that are affected:
- Spastic hemiplegia/hemiparesis usually affects only one side of the body—usually the arm, hand, and leg. Children with spastic hemiplegia/hemiparesis will walk later than most and may do so on the tips of their toes.
- Spastic diplegia/diparesis mostly affects the legs. The hands, arms, and face may also be affected, although the effects are not as severe. The legs of patients with this type are often described as “scissoring” because they tighten and move like scissors. Mobility may require the assistance of leg braces or a walker.
- Spastic quadriplegia/quadriparesis is the most severe form of CP, affecting all four limbs as well as the facial muscles. Many times, this type is associated with intellectual disability. Most patients with this form never walk.
Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy
Patients with dyskinetic CP experience uncontrollable movement of their limbs. The kinds of movements may vary over time or even within a single day. At times the movements may be rapid, sudden and jerky movements, while other times, patients may appear to be writhing in pain. Sitting still and walking may be difficult for patients with dyskinetic cerebral palsy. Patients might also struggle with swallowing, sucking, and talking when the facial muscles and tongue are affected.
Ataxic Cerebral Palsy
Patients with ataxic CP often struggle with voluntary movements, such as reaching for objects, because they struggle with coordination. Balance is another issue for these patients, and as a result, they may walk with a wider stride than most because they feel unsteady.
Mixed Cerebral Palsy
Symptoms that don’t completely match one type of CP or seem to correlate with a number of CP types are classified as mixed cerebral palsy. According to the CDC, the most common type of mixed CP is spastic-dyskinetic cerebral palsy.
