Cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy usually causes abnormal muscle tone and movement. The main types of abnormal muscle tone are:

Spastic cerebral palsy This is the most common type of abnormal muscle tone. Someone with spastic cerebral palsy is likely to experience a tightening of the muscles throughout the body. This tightening can be persistent or intermittent. The amount of stiffness experienced will vary from person to person.

Dyskinetic cerebral palsy Individuals with this type of muscle tone may have dystonia or more rarely athetosis. This describes a type of abnormal muscle control where the muscles can shift from tight to floppy without warning, resulting in involuntary movements.

Ataxic cerebral palsy This is the least common type of cerebral palsy. It can be identified by shaky movement and poor balance. Someone with ataxic cerebral palsy may struggle with fine motor movements and coordination, like writing or using cutlery. They may have a tremor that increases with activity, and struggle with balance. This can make standing or sitting in an upright position difficult.

Mixed cerebral palsy Someone with mixed cerebral palsy may have signs of more than one type of abnormal muscle tone at the same time.


Spastic cerebral palsy This is the most common type of abnormal muscle tone. Someone with spastic cerebral palsy is likely to experience a tightening of the muscles throughout the body. This tightening can be persistent or intermittent. The amount of stiffness experienced will vary from person to person.

Dyskinetic cerebral palsy Individuals with this type of muscle tone may have dystonia or more rarely athetosis. This describes a type of abnormal muscle control where the muscles can shift from tight to floppy without warning, resulting in involuntary movements.

Ataxic cerebral palsy This is the least common type of cerebral palsy. It can be identified by shaky movement and poor balance. Someone with ataxic cerebral palsy may struggle with fine motor movements and coordination, like writing or using cutlery. They may have a tremor that increases with activity, and struggle with balance. This can make standing or sitting in an upright position difficult.

Mixed cerebral palsy Someone with mixed cerebral palsy may have signs of more than one type of abnormal muscle tone at the same time.


struggle with movement and balance, and may be unable to walk struggle to speak, and possibly need to use electronic aids have difficulties with eating, drinking and swallowing have problems with their vision experience pain symptoms experience fatigue (tiredness) have problems with their sleep have epilepsy have a learning disability display behavioural problems have bladder control problems have problems with their digestive system (constipation) struggle to control their saliva struggle to process information from their senses

A person with cerebral palsy may have secondary symptoms. These are caused by the impact of the condition on their body, rather than directly by cerebral palsy. These can include:

tightness in joints and muscles dislocations a change in their physical abilities changes in the amount of pain they experience increased fatigue

Symptoms

The symptoms of cerebral palsy can vary from person to person and are dependent on the type of brain injury or abnormality. Someone with cerebral palsy may:

struggle with movement and balance, and may be unable to walk struggle to speak, and possibly need to use electronic aids have difficulties with eating, drinking and swallowing have problems with their vision experience pain symptoms experience fatigue (tiredness) have problems with their sleep have epilepsy have a learning disability display behavioural problems have bladder control problems have problems with their digestive system (constipation) struggle to control their saliva struggle to process information from their senses

A person with cerebral palsy may have secondary symptoms. These are caused by the impact of the condition on their body, rather than directly by cerebral palsy. These can include:

tightness in joints and muscles dislocations a change in their physical abilities changes in the amount of pain they experience increased fatigue