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Cerebral palsy
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
Cerebral palsy is one of the most severe neurological diseases, in which the brain is damaged or does not fully develop, and various motor activity disorders occur. As a rule, with this disease, the child experiences reflex muscle contractions, speech and balance disorders, as well as epileptic seizures, decreased ability to learn, understand, and adapt.
Causes cerebral palsy
This disease was described back in 1860 by Dr. William Little and was called Little's disease for a long time. After long observations, Dr. Little concluded that the disease develops due to oxygen starvation of the fetus during labor. In 1897, the famous psychiatrist Sigmund Freud suggested that the cause of the disease may be the abnormal development of the fetus's brain in the womb. However, this theory was rejected until the 1960s. In 1980, specialists found that birth injuries lead to the development of cerebral palsy in only 10% of cases, and in most cases the causes remain unknown. Since then, scientists have begun to more thoroughly study the period of fetal development from the 28th week to the 7th day of the already born child.
Cerebral palsy is caused by many factors that disrupt the normal development of the child's brain.
The main cause is considered to be oxygen starvation, in which the brain does not receive enough oxygen (in the womb or at birth) and irreversible processes begin.
Lack of oxygen can be caused by premature separation of the placenta from the uterus, abnormal position of the fetus in the womb, rapid or protracted labor, pathological processes that disrupt circulation in the umbilical cord. Risk factors for the development of cerebral palsy also include cases when the imperfect central system of the fetus is attacked by microorganisms, for example, in the case of premature birth, incompatibility of the blood group or Rh factor of the mother and child, viral diseases during pregnancy, etc.
Specialists pay special attention to two main, in their opinion, reasons for the development of the disease: measles rubella suffered by the pregnant woman and blood incompatibility between the mother and the child. As can be seen, the main reasons are not related to heredity, but are related to the course of pregnancy and the birth process. In this case, doctors diagnose congenital cerebral palsy.
Less common is acquired cerebral palsy, which develops as a result of brain infections or traumatic brain injuries in newborns. Acquired CP usually develops before the age of two.
Symptoms cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy in children can manifest itself in the first days of life or after several months. In severe cases, symptoms appear in the first minutes of life, while in mild cases, the disease may make itself known after some time. Symptoms of the disease and their severity also depend on the severity of the disease and the areas of brain damage. In some cases, symptoms are mild, while in other, more severe cases, they lead to disability.
As a rule, when the disease occurs, the child's motor skills appear later than expected, movements may be either completely absent or excessive, the child does not hold his head well, convulsions appear, speech development occurs with a significant delay. If such symptoms appear, it is necessary to immediately contact a specialist.
Usually, those areas of the brain that are responsible for movement, muscle tone, balance are affected, due to which the brain cannot send the appropriate signals and control the muscles. With such disorders, increased muscle tone, paralysis, reflex muscle contractions (twitching) appear. The child's development does not correspond to accepted norms, he moves his arms (legs) poorly or completely, begins to hold his head, roll over, show interest in surrounding things, sit up, walk, etc. much later than his peers.
With cerebral palsy, the child does not stand on his entire foot, but rests on his toes, is unable to hold a toy in his hand, and moves his foot, clenching and unclenching his fist occurs unconsciously.
With increased muscle tone, the child's movements are severely limited; in some cases, he completely loses the ability to move.
Paralysis can affect the left or right side, only one or both limbs.
Paralyzed limbs remain underdeveloped (thinner, weaker, smaller than healthy ones), as a result of paralysis, skeletal deformation and impaired movement in the joints may begin, which leads to major impairments in motor activity.
Due to damage to the brain, coordination of movements is impaired, which is expressed by frequent falls, head nodding, involuntary movements, etc. Also, with cerebral palsy, a child may begin to have epileptic seizures, develop strabismus, twitching of the eyeball, hearing problems, mental disorders, respiratory failure, and diseases of the digestive tract.
Forms
According to ICD 10, cerebral palsy is classified as a disease of the nervous system (G00-G99). In the classification of diseases, it is listed under code G80 in the section Cerebral palsy and other paralytic syndromes (G80-G83).
Cerebral palsy in preschool age
Cerebral palsy is a progressive disease. With proper treatment, the child's condition improves over time, but the child's psychological maturation lags behind sharply. First of all, cognitive activity is impaired. Children diagnosed with cerebral palsy are characterized by a peculiar development of the psyche, which is associated with organic damage to the brain at an early age and disorders of motor, speech, and sensory functions. Limitations of motor activity, social connections, and conditions of upbringing and education play an important role in mental development.
Most children have low learning ability due to the lack of formation of spatial representations (ability to identify spatial features, relationships, ability to express them correctly, orientation in spatial relationships). Motor analysis is of primary importance for the spatial analyzer.
Due to motor impairment in cerebral palsy, problems with vision and speech, the child’s spatial orientation lags behind, and by school age, severe spatial disorders usually appear.
Diagnostics cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy may not manifest itself in the first days of life, and the pediatrician monitoring the development of the newborn must periodically examine the child in order to diagnose the disease in a timely manner.
At an early age, motor disorders in a child may be transient in nature and a final diagnosis is usually made by the end of the second year of life, when pronounced motor disorders appear.
Diagnosis of the disease is mainly aimed at monitoring possible deviations in physical and intellectual development. In addition, if cerebral palsy is suspected, magnetic resonance imaging is prescribed.
Instrumental analysis includes complete information about the child's illnesses, as well as information about the course of pregnancy and the mother's illnesses during this period. As a rule, parents report developmental delays, but sometimes some deviations can be detected by a doctor during a routine examination.
A physical examination is extremely important for diagnosis, assessing the general condition, vision, hearing, muscle function, and duration of the neonatal reflex.
In the case of a latent form of the disease, tests and developmental tests will help to make a diagnosis and determine the degree of developmental delay.
Comprehensive diagnostic measures help to establish a diagnosis.
To exclude other possible pathologies or diseases, a computed tomography scan or ultrasound examination of the brain may be prescribed to assess the condition of the brain.
After making a final diagnosis, the doctor may prescribe additional examinations that will help identify other diseases that may develop in parallel with cerebral palsy.
Who to contact?
Treatment cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy should be treated from the moment of diagnosis and continued continuously. Although the disease is incurable, with timely and proper treatment, the child's condition and quality of life can be significantly improved.
In the first years of life, treatment of cerebral palsy is based on reducing seizures, muscle tone, improving joint movements, etc. As a result, the child's risk of skeletal deformation decreases, the ability to maintain balance, hold the head, make normal movements of the limbs improves, and he acquires self-care skills.
A child with cerebral palsy should be observed by a pediatrician, neurologist, speech therapist, orthopedist, psychiatrist, and rehabilitation specialist. A comprehensive approach by all specialists will allow the child to adapt to life as much as possible.
For each child, a specialist develops his own program of activities; in some cases, the use of additional equipment (exercise machines, ladders) is required.
Treatment should combine several methods, usually prescribed are medications, regular therapeutic exercises, surgical treatment, help from a speech therapist, psychologist, and treatment in sanatoriums.
If possible, a child with cerebral palsy should be taught to make movements that are accessible to him and to learn self-care skills.
Drug treatment includes the prescription of drugs that prevent neural damage in the brain, antioxidants, vascular drugs, vitamins, etc.
Often, with cerebral palsy, a child is prescribed intravenous injections of cerebrolysin, ceraxon, somazin, piracetam, solcoeril, and intramuscular injections of cortexin, piracetam tablets, ceraxon, neurovitan or glycine (in a course).
All medications are prescribed by a neurologist. To reduce muscle spasms, medications are used to reduce muscle tone (Mydocalm, Baclofen). In severe cases of the disease, injections of proserin or ATP into active points or the introduction of botulinum toxin (Dysport, Botox) are prescribed. The medication prescribed by a specialist is injected into the cramped muscle with a special needle (at several points), the procedure is quite effective, but a repeat injection is required after six months.
For epileptic seizures, medications are prescribed individually, taking into account age, severity and frequency of seizures, and concomitant diseases. Toparamate, valproic acid, and lamotrigine are usually prescribed.
Medicines are prescribed to reduce severe symptoms of the disease; in some cases, painkillers, antispasmodics, antidepressants, and neuroleptics are required.
Physical therapy is recommended for children with cerebral palsy on a daily basis. During gymnastics, a gradual improvement is observed, the child learns new movements, he begins to gradually adapt to his own body and the world around him.
During classes, parents should learn to do massage and gymnastics on their own, since these movements are necessary for the child every day.
Physical therapy also includes games, such as bringing or taking an object, exercises on exercise machines or with special devices.
Physiotherapeutic methods include balneotherapy, medicinal electrophoresis, electrical stimulation of muscles, nerves, thermal radiation, etc. These methods help reduce muscle tone, twitching, develop joints, stretch the spine. Often, several procedures are prescribed to enhance the effect.
In case of severe disturbances in joint movement, surgery is prescribed to lengthen tendons, muscles, transplant or trim tendons to reduce spasms, and surgery on nerves.
The most effective method of treating cerebral palsy is dolphin therapy, which should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. As practice shows, dolphins quickly establish contact with a sick child, promote the development of analyzers, in particular visual and tactile.
When touching an animal, a child's reflex functions, which are responsible for the functioning of the nervous system, improve. With their fins, dolphins create a kind of water massage, and water reduces the load on the joints and trains the muscles.
Massage for cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is usually accompanied by increased muscle tone, spasms, etc. Massage for cerebral palsy shows positive results, it improves the outflow of lymph and blood, improves metabolism, increases muscle mass and the child's adaptive capabilities.
In case of cerebral palsy, massage helps to relax tense muscles and stimulate weakened muscles.
The specialist performs a massage on a specific muscle group, often in combination with breathing exercises.
During the massage, various techniques are used, taking into account the general condition of the child, the severity of the disease, etc.
The session is carried out after thermal procedures and taking medications; the child should be in a position in which the muscles are maximally relaxed.
For cerebral palsy, classical, segmental and acupressure massage are used.
Classic massage is aimed at maximum relaxation of tense muscles, tone of weakened muscles. This massage uses stroking, rolling, pinching, rubbing movements.
Acupressure is recommended from an early age, when muscle dysfunctions are minimal. Most of the points are located in the tendon area. This type shows maximum efficiency after classical or segmental massage.
Segmental massage is aimed at influencing the muscles of the arms, legs, shoulder girdle, and pelvis. During the massage, vibration, kneading, stroking, rubbing, and also sawing or drilling are used.
Prevention
Cerebral palsy can be prevented by protecting the health of the expectant mother. Women planning to become mothers and pregnant women should give up bad habits, regularly undergo routine check-ups with a doctor, follow all recommendations, observe safety measures during epidemics (wear a gauze bandage, do not visit crowded places, etc.), avoid injuries, contact with toxic substances, X-rays, electromagnetic radiation, radioactive radiation.
Forecast
Cerebral palsy, unfortunately, is an incurable disease. However, the correct treatment tactics and daily physical exercises will help the child to adapt to normal life as much as possible.
With minor damage to mental abilities, children diagnosed with cerebral palsy lead a practically normal life on par with their peers.
Cerebral palsy, depending on the degree of brain damage, timely diagnosis, as well as treatment tactics and compliance with all specialist recommendations, may have virtually no impact on the child’s daily life.
While maintaining their intelligence, children with cerebral palsy study in regular educational institutions, learn professions, play sports, dance, do handicrafts, etc.
If the disease has affected both physical and mental activity, children can study in specialized institutions where treatment is combined with education, taking into account the individual capabilities of each child.