Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Spastic cerebral palsy accounts for about 80 percent of all cerebral palsy cases, making it the most common form of CP. It happens when the damage of the brain occurs to the cerebral cortex, which is the outer layer of the brain.

Characteristics of Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Spastic cerebral palsy is characterized by one or more tight muscle groups, which significantly affect and limit movement. The damage to the cerebral cortex causes communication issues between the brain and muscles, which affects their tension. Instead of muscles fluctuating between tension and release as they do when normal brain-to-muscle communication occurs, the muscles of a child with spastic cerebral palsy are in a constant state of tension.

Disabilities Associated with Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Constantly tense muscles result in abrupt, stiff, and jerky movements. Children with spastic cerebral palsy often have difficulty transitioning from one position to another, and may also have trouble grasping and letting go of objects. The degree of disability varies widely from child to child: some kids may have only a few muscle groups affected and therefore have mild cases of spastic CP, while kids with more severe cases can have their entire bodies affected.

Treatment of Spastic Cerebral Palsy

While spastic cerebral palsy is not considered a progressive disease because the brain injury that causes it does not worsen over time, muscle spasticity can become significantly worse over time. Limited range of movement in the muscles joints can cause stunted growth and deformities over time. 

Proper treatment is aimed at lessening spasticity, and can hinder the progression of the muscle and joint issues associated with the disease. Treatment may include oral medications, medications delivered via pump, injection, surgery, and wide variety of both mainstream and alternative therapies.