If you have a child suffering from cerebral palsy disorder, most likely the spastic type is what you are dealing with right now. Being the most common type of cerebral palsy, it accounts for almost 70-80% of cases of cerebral palsy. Persons suffering from this condition mainly have stiff muscles that remain in an expanded state of compression. Because of this muscular stiffness, normal movement becomes difficult, and this can lead to permanent damage to the joints and muscles.
Although the muscles of the legs and arms are the most affected parts of the body of a person suffering from spastic cerebral palsy, their participation may differ. Some of the options are listed below:
o Spastic diplegia is a type of spastic cerebral palsy, where the legs of the muscles are heavily affected, which causes the legs to turn and intersect in the knees. People with spastic diplegia may experience stiffness in their legs when they try to walk.
o Spastic hemiplegia is another type of spasm where half of the limbs are severely damaged. This type can be diagnosed after the doctor examines the child on the so-called hand preference. A baby aging for less than one year has no preference for hands. However, if the infant suffers from spastic hemiplegia, it shows the preference of the hands on the affected side of his body.
Treating people with spasmodic cerebral palsy is associated with a combination of surgery and physical therapy. Joints as well as muscles are used to block them from falling into a state of immobility. Once the uninfected muscles and joints are combined with abnormal and poor posture, there is a large tendency for muscle contraction, which results in significantly limited flexibility and movement.
In most cases, the therapist usually uses muscle-relaxing substances, such as botulinum toxin. It is inserted into a specific group of muscles that will be prepared for surgery or physiotherapy. If further mobility and flexibility are not achievable for a particular therapy session, the patient’s back and nerves will need an operation to reduce the transmission of nerve impulses to certain muscles, thereby weakening them. Orthopedic devices will also need to be used to help maintain limbs in the correct position and improve movement.
It is important that you know about spastic cerebral palsy to find out which necessary treatments alleviate the pain that your child or loved one is experiencing.
