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"Great things are done by a series of small things brought together"
Vincent van Gogh
What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral Palsy is a condition marked by impaired muscle co-ordination (spastic paralysis) and/ or other disabilities, typically caused by damage to the brain before or at birth.
Cerebral Palsy is caused by an abnormality or disruption in brain development most often before a child is born. In many cases, the cause isn’t known.
Factors that can lead to problems with brain development include:
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Gene mutation that leads to abnormal development
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Maternal infections that affect the developing foetus
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Foetal stroke, a disruption of blood supply to the developing brain
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Bleeding into the brain in the womb or as a newborn
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Infant infections that cause inflammation in or around the brain
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Traumatic head injury to an infant from a motor accident or fall
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Lack of oxygen to the brain related to difficult labour or delivery, although birth related asphyxia is much less common a cause than historically thought.
Cerebral Palsy Facts
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Every hour a baby is born with cerebral palsy.
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It is the most common physical disability in childhood.
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Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term for a group of disorders. It is a condition that is permanent, but not unchanging.
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Cerebral palsy is a life-long physical disability due to damage of the developing brain.
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In most cases, brain injury leading to cerebral palsy occurs during pregnancy.
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Cerebral palsy, except in its mildest forms, can be evident in the first 12-18 months.
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Motor disability can range from minimal to profound, depending on the individual.
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It can range from weakness in one hand, to an almost complete lack of voluntary movement requiring 24 hour care.
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Children with cerebral palsy are likely to also have other impairments in addition to their motor disability.
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Spastic hemiplegia, where one half of the body has difficulty with voluntary movement, is the most common presentation of cerebral palsy. Approximately 40% of people with Cerebral Palsy have hemiplegia.
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There is no known cure for the condition.
