Cerebral Palsy in Children

Written by Joey Ong

Edited by Wynn Ng

Cerebral Palsy affects nearly 18 million people worldwide, yet it is a condition that many know little about (Cerebral Palsy Statistics | Facts and Insights on CP, 2023). Cerebral Palsy is an umbrella term for many different brain conditions that cause paralysis and affects a person’s ability to move, maintain balance, and posture (About Cerebral Palsy | Cerebral Palsy (CP), 2025). It is a neurodevelopmental condition, meaning brain damage occurs during development, leading to impaired functioning (Osmosis from Elsevier, 2023). The development of Cerebral Palsy typically occurs prenatally, while the fetus is still developing inside the mother. Because of this, it is undiagnosed until a few years after birth and little can be done to prevent it. Some causes of Cerebral Palsy are genetics, maternal infections, stroke, traumatic head injury, and lack of oxygen. Cerebral Palsy may also develop after birth due to complications during birth, infant illness, bleeding into the brain, and hypoxia (Cerebral palsy - Symptoms and causes, 2023). 

Symptoms may first appear in infancy to preschool years. It can be seen in the form of exaggerated reflexes or stiff muscles, irregular posture, uncontrollable movements, unsteady walks, or a combination of these (Cerebral palsy - Symptoms and causes, 2023). The cause of Cerebral Palsy and its effect on a person’s function can vary from child to child. Some may experience epilepsy, loss of a sense,  inability to walk, while others may not experience these symptoms at all. Children with Cerebral Palsy may have physical impairments in their developmental milestones, such as motor skill milestones, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities and delayed growth. Neurological symptoms include seizures, hearing and vision issues, feeling touch, and mental health conditions. While these symptoms are prevalent in a child’s life, it is a non-progressive disorder. 

Cerebral Palsy is classified by three types of movement: spastic, dyskinetic, and ataxic (Osmosis from Elsevier, 2023).

Spastic Cerebral Palsy is the most common type of Cerebral Palsy, and is the result of damage to the brain’s motor areas that control voluntary movements. This leads to stiff or tight muscles and an inability to control these muscles, resulting in rigid or jerky movements (About Cerebral Palsy | Cerebral Palsy (CP), 2025). There are three major types of Spastic Cerebral Palsy. Spastic diplegia, or diparesis, is when muscles are primarily affected in the leg, and less so in the arms. There may be stiffness or tightness in the leg and hip muscles, which can result in scissoring. Scissoring is when a child’s legs are turned inward and cross at the knees, making walking difficult. Spastic hemiplegia, or hemiparesis, occurs when the muscles of one side of the body are affected, such as the right arm and the right leg. This may cause difficulty with tasks that require fine motor skills or walking. Spastic quadriplegia, or quadriparesis is the most severe form of Cerebral Palsy, and affects all four limbs (both arms and legs), the trunk, and the face. With this form of Spastic Cerebral Palsy, a child may not be able to walk and have development disabilities such as, intellectual disabilities, or problems with their senses. This can lead to challenges in speech, swallowing, and coordination (About Cerebral Palsy | Cerebral Palsy (CP), 2025). 

Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy occurs when the basal ganglia is damaged. The basal ganglia helps the body initiate and prevent certain movements by getting messages about movement from the brain to the muscles. Damage to this area can lead to children’s inability to perform voluntary movements well. There are three types of dyskinetic movements: dystonia, athetosis, and chorea. Dystonia involves twisting and repeating movements that may be painful. This type of movement often causes the muscles to involuntarily and uncontrollably contract, which results in the body twisting into unwanted positions and postures. Athetosis involves slow, writhing movements that mainly affect the hands and face. This can make it difficult to perform controlled actions such as eating, grabbing objects or writing. Chorea involves irregular, abrupt movements. This can lead to involuntary jerky movements that happen randomly and can also affect various parts of the body (Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy (for Parents) | Nemours KidsHealth, 2024). Dyskinetic movements can fluctuate throughout the day, with some movements being more intense during periods of stress or excitement. These involuntary movements can significantly impact daily activities and may require intervention. 

Ataxic Cerebral Palsy occurs when the cerebellum is damaged. The cerebellum controls coordination and precise muscle movements. Damage to this area can lead to issues with balance and coordination in a child, contributing to difficulty with walking or picking up objects. Additionally, people with Ataxic Cerebral Palsy may have a hard time controlling their hands when they reach for objects, as their hands movements are shaky. (About Cerebral Palsy | Cerebral Palsy (CP), 2025). Ataxic Cerebral Palsy may be classified by its severity from mild to moderate to severe. Children with mild Cerebral Palsy may only have slight problems with balance or coordination and have difficulty with some fine motor tasks. Children with moderate Ataxic Cerebral Palsy may need more assistance with walking or using their hands for certain tasks. They may rely on assistive devices to move around. Children with severe Ataxic Cerebral Palsy have significant challenges in their balance and coordination and may need full time support for mobility and care. 

Cerebral Palsy is a complex group of disorders that affect movement, muscle and coordination in children due to brain damage during development, often occurring before or after birth. While symptoms vary from child to child, it is important to obtain an early diagnosis and intervention. There are a variety of therapies that have been found to be useful in treating Cerebral Palsy such as, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and recreational therapy. In some cases, surgical procedures to release tight muscles might be useful. With appropriate care and support, children with Cerebral Palsy can lead fulfilling lives – ones where they can develop the proper skills to manage their condition and gain independence.

References

About Cerebral Palsy | Cerebral Palsy (CP). (2025, March 3). CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/cerebral-palsy/about/index.html 

Cerebral Palsy Statistics | Facts and Insights on CP. (2023, November 17). Cerebral Palsy Guide. https://www.cerebralpalsyguide.com/cerebral-palsy/statistics/ 

Cerebral palsy - Symptoms and causes. (2023, September 28). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cerebral-palsy/symptoms-causes/syc-20353999 

Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy (for Parents) | Nemours KidsHealth. (2024, August). Kids Health. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/dyskinetic-cp.html 

Osmosis from Elsvier. (2023, December 5). Cerebral palsy (CP) - causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, pathology [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq_Tzj8mUe8