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​Over 80,000 Canadians are affected by cerebral palsy and it is the most common physical disability in childhood. 

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Cerebral palsy (CP) refers to a group of disorders in the development of motor control and posture, occurring as a result of a non-progressive impairment of the developing central nervous system. The motor disorders of cerebral palsy can be accompanied by disturbances of sensation, cognition, communication, perception, and/or seizure disorder.

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Motor disability can range from minimal to profound, depending on the individual.

It can range from weakness in one hand, to an almost complete lack of voluntary movement requiring 24-hour care. Children with cerebral palsy are likely to also have other impairments in addition to their motor disability.

 

While cerebral palsy is not curable, training and therapy can help significantly. Management is a more accurate word than treatment. Management consists of helping a child achieve maximum potential in growth and development.

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People with cerebral palsy can go to school, have jobs, get married, raise families and live in their own homes.

 

Most of all, people with cerebral palsy need the opportunity for independence and full inclusion in our society.

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THERE ARE 4 MAIN TYPES OF CEREBRAL PALSY:

Spastic Cerebral Palsy - The most common type of CP is Spastic CP.  It affects about 80% of people with CP.  People with Spastic CP have increased muscle tone and this means that their muscles are stiff and as a result, their movements are awkward.

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Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy - People with dyskinetic forms of CP have variable movement that is involuntary (outside of their control).  These involuntary movements are especially noticeable when a person attempts to move.

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Ataxic Cerebral Palsy - Ataxic movements are characterized by clumsiness, imprecision, or instability.  Movements are not smooth and may appear disorganized or jerky.  The incoordination seen with ataxia occurs when a person attempts to perform voluntary movements such as walking or picking up objects.  Ataxia causes interruption of muscle control in the arms and legs,  resulting in a lack of balance and coordination.

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Mixed Cerebral Palsy - Mixed CP occurs when a child exhibits symptoms of more than one type of CP.  Children diagnosed with mixed type CP have sustained damage to the motor control centers in several parts of their brain.

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