Abnormal Muscle Tone

What Are the Effects of Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders affecting muscle and movement; it is caused by damage to the brain during pregnancy, at birth or in early childhood. The effects of cerebral palsy vary, depending on the degree of damage and on the area of...

Long Term Effects of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy refers to a cluster of disorders that affect body movement, mobility and muscle tone. It is caused by brain infections or injury, usually before birth. Patients with cerebral palsy may find themselves in need of aids such as...

Causes and Risk Factors of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is the medical name for a group of disorders linked to problems with brain development. Cerebral palsy is sometimes known as spastic paralysis; its symptoms include abnormal muscle tone and movements, often in the extremities.

How to Help Children With Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy causes abnormal motor development that makes it challenging to achieve motor milestones such as lifting the head, rolling over, sitting and walking. Children may be afflicted to varying degrees of severity and are also diagnosed...

Diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy

The Mayo Clinic defines cerebral palsy as a category of disorders that are defined by the loss of movement or nerve functions. The problem does not originate in the nerves or muscles, but the part of the brain that controls the muscles.

Medications for Muscle Spasms

Skeletal muscles most commonly spasm in response to an acute injury or as a consequence of misuse or overuse. They can also occur as a side effect of prescribed medications and as a result of chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral...

All About Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term that describes several disorders that affect the ability of afflicted patients to coordinate the movements of their muscles. The Mayo Clinic explains that in the United States and Europe, one or two out of every...

Vestibular System Exercises

The vestibular system in your brain allows you to maintain balance and aids in smooth movements of the body. It coordinates sensory information in your body. Malfunctions in the vestibular system may cause anxiety or panic attacks, abnormal muscle...

Exercising for Children With Cerebral Palsy

If you have a child with cerebral palsy, you may wonder if he can and should exercise. In fact, exercise may be crucial for children with cerebral palsy. The physical and mental benefits may be immeasurable. With a few modifications, your child...

Diagnostic Criteria for Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy, or CP, is a group of chronic movement or posture disorders. This condition is not caused by problems with the muscle, but with the brain's ability to control the body. According to United Cerebral Palsy Research and Educational...

Developmental Signs of Eye Problems in Babies

Babies demonstrate their visual abilities as they gaze at and follow objects with their eyes to "visually track." Even a newborn baby has vision skills such as glancing briefly at colorful objects. A doctor can detect eye problems by examining the...

Sensory Issues in Relation to Cerebral Palsy

Young children learn about their bodies and the world as they move and interact with objects. Crawling and climbing provide touch and movement stimulation. Walking and running provide stimulation to the inner ears to develop balance. Grasping toys...

Dystonia In Children

Dystonia, which can occur in people of every age and sex, is a disorder that causes involuntary muscle spasms and contractions. In North America, dystonia affects as many as 300,000 people, according to the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation....

Nutritional Deficiency and Shaking

Muscle shaking, also called essential tremor or muscle fasciculation, is an uncontrollable twitching of your muscles. Muscle shaking is most noticeable in the hands, but also occurs around the neck, eyes and legs. Muscle shaking and tremors are...

Vestibular System & Balance Board Exercises

Your vestibular system helps you stand upright, maintain balance and move through space. This system also coordinates information from your inner ear, visual, tactile and musculoskeletal system. This system helps regulate your heart rate, muscle...

Classic Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a condition that affects many people all around the world. The condition takes on a slightly different appearance in each patient because of individuality, as well as the fact that there are different types of cerebral palsy....

Reasons for Delayed Walking in Infants

Children reach many different milestones in the first couple years of life, with one of the most memorable being the ability to walk. Most children gain the ability to walk independently between the ages of 11 and 15 months. If your child is not...

How to Diaper a Child With Cerebral Palsy

Children with cerebral palsy have abnormal movements and muscle tone that make it challenging for parents to pull apart the thighs in order to change a diaper. Muscle tone refers to the amount of resistance felt when bending a joint such as the...

Side Effects of Amlodipine Besylate

Amlodipine besylate (Norvasc) is a long-acting, calcium channel-blocking medication that helps to control high blood pressure (hypertension) for up to 24 hours. In addition to relaxing the blood vessels and improving blood flow, amlodipine...

Genetic Diseases in Humans

Each cell within the human body contains thousands of genes, which collectively make up the genome. The genes are arranged in larger groupings, called chromosomes, and most cells within the human body contain a pair of 23 different chromosomes,...

Side Effects of Abilify

Abilify (aripiprazole), an anti-psychotic medication, is used to treat symptoms of bipolar disease and schizophrenia in adults and children. Abilify works on the neurotransmitter dopamine's receptors, increasing dopamine output when levels are low...

Congenital Disorders of the Skeleton

A congenital skeletal disorder, also known as skeletal dysplasia, refers to abnormal fetal bone development that causes skeletal deformities that are present at birth. The incidence of skeletal dysplasia is one out of every 4,000 to 5,000 births,...

Pyruvate Metabolism Dysfunction Symptoms

Pyruvate is generated by the body during carbohydrate metabolism. There are several disorders associated with pyruvate metabolism deficiency, most of which are genetic. In pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency, or PDCD, the enzymes that...

Renal Tubular Acidosis Symptoms

The kidneys function as the primary site for maintaining chemical balance in the body. The maintenance of a normal acid-base balance occurs within minute kidney structures termed the renal tubules. Renal tubule malfunction that leads to excessive...

Common Prenatal Tests in Pregnancy by Third Trimesters

During prenatal check ups throughout a pregnancy, a woman will undergo numerous tests to promote a healthy pregnancy and delivery. These tests are helpful in reducing or identifying the risks of complications, like urinary tract infections,...

Nutritional Concerns for Children With Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is characterized by disorganized movements, abnormal body postures and poor muscle tone from damage to the brain, according to Mary Mitchell in "Nutrition Across the Life Span." The impact on nutrition includes risk factors for...

Does Cerebral Palsy Cause Arthritis?

Cerebral palsy is a sort of blanket term for several different disorders that can appear during the first few years of a child's life. These disorders affect a child's ability to coordinate movement of his body. As a result, there are...

Strength Training for People With Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a nonprogressive disorder in which brain damage or abnormal brain development causes inadequate muscle control, movement and tone. Cerebral palsy does not cause damage to the muscles, but rather to the motor center of the brain...

Cerebral Palsy & the Importance of Exercise

Routine tasks like carrying the groceries to the car or walking up the stairs can be a challenge for those with cerebral palsy. Regular exercise, when approached with caution and approved by your doctor, serves as an effective way to minimize the...