Cerebral palsy (CP) refers to a group of neurological disorders characterized by abnormal movement and coordination of the muscles. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, abnormalities in parts of the brain permanently affect the muscles, although the symptoms do not worsen over time. According to MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health, CP may occur anytime from when the baby is in the womb through age two. Several types of cerebral palsy among others include spastic, dyskinetic and ataxic.
Spastic Cerebral Palsy
According to 4MyChild, spastic CP is the most commonly diagnosed type of the disease. Symptoms of spastic CP stem from rigidly tight muscles that do not stretch. MedlinePlus states that muscles may tighten up further over time. The child's walking is affected due to arms and knees being tightly tucked in towards the center of the body. The child may walk on his toes or make "scissor"-like motions when walking because the knees may be touching each other or crossing. This condition is classified as a type of spastic CP called spastic diplegia, according to 4MyChild. Joint contracture occurs when the joints stiffen up and do not extend all the way, while muscle weakness or paralysis may affect the muscle groups. Other subtypes of spastic CP include spastic hemiplegia, where spasticity affects only one side of the body, and spastic quadriplegia, where spasticity affects both arms, legs and body. According to 4MyChild, spastic quadriplegia is the severest form of spastic CP and symptoms are more likely to be accompanied by mental retardation and seizures.
Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy
Dyskinetic, or athetoid dyskinetic, CP affects the child's ability to control muscles of the body but not her intelligence. Difficulty controlling facial muscles may cause problems with talking and drooling. Walking and sitting can present troubles as the child struggles to control the major muscles. According to KidsHealth, the muscles affected by athetoid dyskinetic CP may present a fluttering motion or suddenly start moving.
Ataxic Cerebral Palsy
Ataxia defines inability to coordinate muscles with voluntary movement. Children with ataxic CP have trouble performing fine motor activities requiring precision such as tying shoelaces or buttoning their shirt. Additionally, according to 4MyChild, they have trouble coordinating the leg muscles when walking, such as placing the feet wide apart more than normal. Besides coordination, ataxic CP also affects sense of balance.
Other Types of Cerebral Palsy
Hypotonic CP indicates decreased muscle tone and causes developmental delays to the child's motor skills. According to 4MyChild, hypotonic CP symptoms are noticed earlier because a baby's muscles are too floppy for him to even sit up or hold his head up. Mixed CP refers to a condition with a mix of symptoms that does not fall into any other type. Congenital cerebral palsy develops during a baby's development, while Erb's palsy occurs due to an accident at birth when the brachial plexus nerve is injured, thereby leading to a lack of muscle control in the affected arm.
