Cerebral palsy is a medical condition that causes your muscles to become stiff, weak and uncontrollable. It generally appears within the first few years of a person's life and isn't curable. According to the March of Dimes, about 800,000 people in the United States suffer from the condition.
Symptoms
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of cerebral palsy include spasticity (exaggerated reflexes and stiff muscles), ataxia (lack of coordination), difficulty speaking and trouble walking.
Types
There are three types of cerebral palsy. According to the March of Dimes, spastic cerebral palsy involves stiff muscles and difficulty moving; this is the most common type. Athetoid, or dyskinetic, cerebral palsy affects your entire body's muscle tone. Movements can be very slow or very rapid. Ataxic cerebral palsy is rare and you may have trouble walking or writing.
Risk Factors
The Mayo Clinic states that risk factors for cerebral palsy include having a low birth weight, being born prematurely and being exposed to toxic substances, such as mercury, in the womb. Also people who are born breech (feet first) are at higher risk for developing cerebral palsy.
Treatment
Cerebral palsy can be treated using muscle relaxants, physical therapy and occupational therapy to relax stiff muscles, according to the Mayo Clinic. If you have severe deformities, surgery can put your limbs back in anatomical position. Surgeons can also sever certain nerves to relax your muscles if necessary.
Population
The March of Dimes states that cerebral palsy is usually diagnosed in people by the age of 3 years old. In fact, 2 out of every 1,000 children in the United States are affected by cerebral palsy.
