Cerebral Palsy Rehabilitation: Common Causes of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy can be defined as a non progressive neuromuscular disorder,
causing mild to even severe disabilities through the entirety of one’s life.
This condition is characterized as a group of persisting motor disorders,
which appeal in young children due to damage to the brain during delivery or
due to some pathological condition during pregnancy.
The neurological problems are multiple but do not progress any further in nature.
About 2 in 100 births are having this problem.
There is no hereditary tendency.

CAUSES OF CEREBRAL PALSY:

1)injury to the brain during delivery
2)the misuse of forceps during delivery
3)lack of oxygen supply to the baby during birth
4)infections during delivery

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF CEREBRAL PALSY:

The signs and symptoms may differ in all babies affected.
Depending on the amount of damage to the brain, there could be mild to severe lesions:
20 having moderate disability, while about 30% of the affected children are totally incapacitated,
bedridden, and always need assistance from others.

ABNORMALITIES IN CEREBRAL PALSY:

1)unusual neonatal reflexes
2)stiffness of all muscles, and awkwardness in motion
3)extention of extremities when in upward or standing position
4)scissoring of the legs due to spasms of the muscles of the thigh
5)the back is bent backwards, like an arch
6)some total or partial paralysis
7)difficulty swallowing
8)drooling of saliva
9)mental retardations
10)tremors with typical movements
11)abnormal movements
12)loss of muscle tone
13)partial or complete hearing loss
14)speech impairment
15)squinting of the eyes
16)convulsions
Cerebral palsy is diagnosed thoroughly by clinical examination and by ruling out
other possible diseases and disabilities,
such as, brain tumor and progressive atrophy.
All examinations like CT scan, MRI and routine tests are needed to rule out other diseases or conditions.

MANAGEMENT OR CARE OF CEREBRAL PALSY:

This includes proper personal and nutritional care.
Special medicines are needed to reduce convulsions and muscle stiffness.
Diazepam can reduce spasms and athetosis.
Dantrolene sodium helps to relax skeletal muscles.

PHYSICAL THERAPY:

Massage, exercise and hydrotherapy are a great help and essentially needed.
Special training is required and given to help with walking, swallowing and talking.
The affected children are also taught how to hold articles/items for routine activities.

REHABILITATION:

Moral and social support should be given to these children.
They should be sent to special schools, where there is a specially trained staff.
Special instruments and machines are used for locomotion and to assist in daily routines and activities.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY:

An occupational therapist trains and assists disabled people to do some suitable work,
so that these people can have their own income and are able to make a living.

 

 

Bal Sanjeevani Cerebral Palsy Rehab Centre.mp4 – Children are among God’s most beautiful creations. But God makes some children even more special than the others, Like those afflicted with CEREBRAL PALSY an…

 

Tags: physical therapy, cerebral palsy, occupational therapy, signs and symptoms, occupational therapist