Definition

Cerebral palsy or CP is a group of disorders associated with developmental brain injuries that occur during fetal development, birth, or shortly after birth. It is damage to the immature brain resulting in problems with balance, coordination, and movement

Causes

Since cerebral palsy refers to a group of disorders, there is no exact known cause. Some major causes are asphyxia or hypoxia of brain, birth trauma or premature birth, genetic susceptibility, certain infections in the mother during and before birth, central nervous system infections, trauma, and consecutive hematomas. After birth, the condition may be caused by toxins, physical brain injury, incidents involving hypoxia to the brain (such as drowning), and encephalitis or meningitis.

Signs & Symptoms

a. In Ataxia type, having problems with balance, especially while walking.

b. In Athetoid or dyskinetic type, Persons have involuntary body movements.

c. In Spastic type, Persons having Upper Limb Flexion synergy, and Lower Limb Extension synergy.

Complications

a. Contractures: Knee Flexion Contracture, Elbow, wrist, finger Flexion Contracture

b. Deformities: Equinus, Scoliosis

c. Hip Subluxation

Objective of orthotic intervention:

a. To correct and/or prevent deformity

b. To provide a base of support

c. To facilitate training in skills

d. To improve the efficiency of gait

Orthotic Prescription

a. Prestanding

• For Scoliosis, give spinal orthoses (TLSO)

• For Hip Subluxation, give Hip abduction spinal orthoses (HASO)

• Postoperative Hip Orthoses

• For Lower Limb Deformities: rigid ankle foot orthosis (AFO)

• For Upper Limb Management: Elbow orthosis, WHO, etc