Cerebral Palsy: Types

What are the Different Types of Cerebral Palsy?

Spastic cerebral palsy [stiff and difficult movement]

· This form occurs in nearly 80% of all cases. This form of cerebral palsy is one group of muscles is tighter than another group of muscles. This causes mobility concerns; this is where stiffness of the muscles and jerking movements come from. Have a hard time moving from one position to another or holding or letting go of objects.

http://www.about-cerebral-palsy.org/definition/spastic-cerebral-palsy.html

Athetoid cerebral palsy [involuntary and uncontrolled movements]

· This form occurs in 10 to 20% of all cases athetoid cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the cerebellum or basal ganglia. This part of the brain is responsible for enabling smooth coordinated movements as well as maintaining body posture. With the damage to the brain in this area it causes involuntary purposeless movements session the face arms and trunk. Athetoid cerebral palsy has low muscle tone problems with posture for sitting and for walking.

· Involuntary movements that are of a concern are speech, feeding, reaching, grasping and other skills that require coordinated movements.

· Some involuntary movements they may occur are grimacing and tongue thrusting which may lead to swallowing, drooling or slurred speech concerns. The movement concerns become more noticeable with emotional stress and disappear during sleep.

http://www.about-cerebral-palsy.org/definition/athetoid-cerebral-palsy.html

Ataxic cerebral palsy [disturbed sense of balance and depth perception]

· This form occurs in 5 to 10% of all cases this rare form of cerebral palsy affects the sense of balance and depth perception of the individual, the individual will also have low muscle tone and poor coordination in the movements. Affected individuals walk unsteady with a wide base placing their feet and usually far apart. Often you will see a tremor or shakiness with this individual a lot like would be seen in a very older person especially when they are trying to complete tasks that would use their fine motors.

http://www.about-cerebral-palsy.org/definition/ataxic-cerebral-palsy.html

Mixed cerebral palsy:

· This form is cerebral palsy is caused by an injury to both the pyramidal extrapyramidal areas of the brain. These individuals have both tight muscle tone of the spastic cerebral palsy in the involuntary movements of the athetoid cerebral palsy. That is the most common combinations but it is possible to have other mixtures of different forms of cerebral palsy

http://www.about-cerebral-palsy.org/definition/mixed-cerebral-palsy.html

What are the different motor functions:

The use of the gross motor function classification system for cerebral palsy will describe the ability of a child from birth to 18 years of age. Classification system will show the function and the ability the individuals able to move in their daily life. The emphasis is on how well a child is able to have mobility inside or outside also the classification will look at the uses of assistive technology devices or assistive mobility tools such as walkers crutches Keynes and wheelchair mobility devices.

	Level 1: Walks Without Limitations Uses no assistive devices (such as crutches) Can walk indoors and outdoors and climb stairs no limits. Can perform usual activities such as running and jumping Has decreased speed, balance and coordination
Level 2: Walks With Limitations Is limited in outdoor activities Has the ability to walk indoors and outdoors and climb stairs with a railing Has difficulty with uneven surfaces, inclines or in crowds. Has minimal ability to run or jump.
	Level 3: Walks Using a Hand-Held Mobility Device Walks with assistive mobility devices indoors and outdoors on level surfaces May be able to climb stairs using a railing May propel a manual wheelchair (with assistance needed for long distances or uneven surfaces)
Level 4: Self-Mobility with Limitations; May Use Powered Mobility Self-mobility severely limited even with assistive devices Uses wheelchairs most of the time and may propel their own power wheelchair
	Level 5: Transported in a Manual Wheelchair Has physical impairments that restrict voluntary control of movement and the ability to maintain head and neck position against gravity Is impaired in all areas of motor function. Cannot sit or stand on their own even with equipment. Cannot do independent mobility, though may be able to use a power