Types Of Cerebral Palsy ...

Cerebral Palsy Types  :

Spastic Cerebral Palsy - occurs in about 70% of cases. The spasticity is due to upper motor neuron involvement and may mildly or severely affect motor function. The syndrome may produce hemiplegia, paraplegia, quadriplegia, or diplegia.
Affected limbs usually are underdeveloped and show increased deep tendon reflexes, weakness, and a tendency toward contractures. A scissors gait and toe walking are characteristic. In mildly affected children, impairment may occur only during certain activities (eg, running). With quadriplegia, an associated impairment of oral, lingual, and palatal movement, with consequent dysarthria, is common.


Athetoid Cerebral Palsy - occurs in about 20% of cases. Slow, writhing, involuntary movements may affect the extremities (athetoid) or the proximal parts of the limbs and the trunk (dystonia); abrupt, jerky, distal movements (choreiform) also may occur. The movements increase with emotional tension and disappear during sleep. Dysarthria occurs and is often severe.

Ataxic Cerebral Palsy - occurs in about 10% of cases. Weakness, incoordination, and intention tremor produce unsteadiness, a wide-based gait, and difficulty with rapid or fine movements.

Mixed CP -  is not uncommon, and is a combination of the above types but is most often a mixture of spasticity and athetoid movements, with tight muscle tone and involuntary reflex.