What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral pares, CP, is the most common reason to movement disorders among children, and the most characterized effect of CP is reduced or non-existent muscle control.

CP is caused by a brain damage that emerges during pregnancy, childbirth or during the two first years of living. Barely half of the children with cerebral palsy are premature babies.

To have cerebral palsy can vary from hardly noticeable movement difficulties to larger movement disorders. Some people are not in need of any aid at all, while others may need more help, like a wheelchair for example. It is rather common that children with cerebral palsy also have other disabilities, like development-, attention- or percipience difficulties, speak- and language disorder, epilepsy or visual impairment. However, it is essential to point out that the differences vary a lot from one person to another.

Cerebral palsy is divided into three major types: spastic, dyskinetic (athetosis) and ataxic.