Essay On Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy refers to a group of chronic disorders that involve degrees of brain damage that affect body control and movement. The term cerebral refers to the brain, while palsy describes a disorder that impairs the control of body movement. These disorders are not the result of muscles or nerves problems. Instead, they are due to impaired motor areas in the brain that disrupt its ability to control movement and posture. The condition typically appears within the first few years of life and it is not marked by regression. (Mecham, 1986)

The human body is made up of many organ systems that consist of organs and tissues of different anatomies and diverse nomenclature. These organs systems, organs and tissues are prone to thousands of diseases, and one of these diseases is cerebral palsy, which is a disease of the nervous system in simple terms. Research relating to cerebral palsy is carried out, whereby the disorder is described, along with its history, and how it affects the nervous system and the brain. The anatomy of the body systems involves with regard to this disorder, the effects of the disorder on these body systems and other body systems are also researched and discussed. Furthermore, the research focuses on the causes of cerebral palsy, its complications, signs, and symptoms, and the diagnosis of the disorder, along with its treatment and side effects of the treatment. A recap of the research focusing on prevention strategies, the anatomy and physiology of cerebral palsy and the nervous system is presented.

Cerebral palsy presents itself as a, usually recognizable by others, physical disability. This disability does not allow full physical movements or use of extremities. A person with this disability may not be able to walk or may not be able to use an arm. Alternatively, a person with cerebral palsy may not stand upright, as most people do. This condition is chronic, meaning that it is long-lasting over much time. As this disability presents itself in various ways, one with cerebral palsy may experience involuntary muscle movements. Often times, people with cerebral palsy may experience deficits appearing in one side of the body. The way that cerebral palsy appears at birth will be the way that this disability presents itself during the duration of life. The disability does not get worse and cannot be cured after birth.

Twenty percent of cerebral palsy cases result from a brain injury that occurs during the birthing process. Acquired cerebral palsy accounts for around ten percent of cerebral palsy cases and typically occurs in the first few months or years of life as a result of head injuries, vehicle accidents, or bacterial meningitis.

The word “cerebral” means the brain and the word “palsy” means muscle weakness and poor control. Children or adults can be born with Cerebral Palsy or might be diagnosed later in life. The disorder may occur during the woman’s pregnancy, child’s birth, or after the child

Cerebral Palsy is a term that is used to broadly describe a group of chronic palsies, which are disorders that impair movement control due to past damage of the developing brain. Cerebral Palsy usually develops at a young age, 2 or 3, and is a non progressive brain disorder. Non progressive means that the brain itself is not damaged anymore over time, however the symptoms from the damage already there could change drastically over time either for better or for worse.

People with Cerebral Palsy often have trouble with posture, balance, ability to move, communication, eating, and sleeping. These people have uncontrolled or unpredictable movements like tremors or muscles can be stiff, weak, or tight. Many people with Cerebral Palsy have difficulty breathing, swallowing, head control, neck control, eating, and have dental and digestive problems. Three in four people experience pain which is caused by abnormal postures, skin breakdown, and etc.

Cerebral Palsy is a disease that is associated with brain injury prior to birth or within two years after birth. This disease is a general category and can occur because of many different events. The resultant disease can have many different effects on the body. When someone is diagnosed with this disease it will last throughout a their whole lifetime but will generally not be progressive (Imms). Cerebral Palsy is a lifelong disease but through exercise and other treatments we can increase function and increase quality of daily life for patients.

Different therapies have been used as a complementary or alternative form of medicine. Some clinical therapy trials have not been recognized by the mainstream because so of the results have come back inconclusive or showed no benefit. Although some therapies have shown an improvement in cerebral palsy cases especially in children, these therapies have still not been recognized by the food and drug administration as an aid for cerebral palsy. Some of these therapies include hyperbaric oxygen therapy, resistance clothing during exercise, forms of electrical stimulation, assistance in completing certain movements several times a day, and specialized learning strategies (Cerebral Palsy: Hope Through Research, 2016) . Dietary supplements, herbal

Cerebral palsy is the medical term used to describe a cluster of neurological disorders. According to the Mayo Clinic, this condition affects movement, posture

Cerebral Palsy is a disability caused by traumatic injury to the developing brain. “Cerebral” means brain and “Palsy” means paralysis of the voluntary muscles. 70% of the individuals diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy get the disease before they are even born due to injury, accidents, and even medical malpractice. 20% of people with Cerebral Palsy have gotten CP during the birthing process and 10% get CP by an injury to the brain before it is fully developed.There are 3 levels, 2 types, and multiple treatment options of Cerebral Palsy. Mild, moderate, and severe and the 3 different levels of Cerebral Palsy. How much of the body is affected shows the severity of each case.

“The term cerebral palsy refers to a group of neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement, muscle coordination, and balance”(Cerebral Palsy Information). “Cerebral Palsy affects the part of the brain that controls muscle movements”(Cerebral Palsy Information). It is common to be found within months of an infant being born to years in childhood. The condition is not genetically transferred it mostly depends of the baby in the womb. “Some of the possible causes include a lack of oxygen to the brain during labor and delivery, severe jaundice in the infant, maternal infections such German measles and herpes simplex, brain infections such as encephalitis and meningitis, bleeding into the brain ,head injuries as a result of a car accident, a fall, or child abuse” (Cerebral Palsy: Causes). In some cases the cause of Cerebral Palsy is not known.

Cerebral Palsy is an umbrella term for a group of disabilities associated with movement and posture (Victoria Government, 2014; What is Cerebral Palsy? 2014). Every patient of this disability will look different and move differently due to the affected location within the brain (What is Cerebral Palsy? 2014). Cerebral Palsy will appear as a muscle disability, however, it is caused by the cerebrum being damaged. The cerebrum is responsible for memory, learning ability, muscle control, and communication skills; this is why some people with cerebral palsy struggle with communication and learning (Nordqvist, C, 2015).

Cerebral palsy is a general term for a variety of disorders caused by damage to the brain. The damage occurs before or during birth or in the first few years of life. The brain damage may cause severe crippling, or the symptoms may be so mild that they hardly interfere with the patient's activities.

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is brain damage. It cannot be cured, it is not contagious, it is not a disease, and it does not get worse. According to Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, "Cerebral Palsy is a broad term for various nonprogressive disorders of motor function in people, resulting from brain damage around the time of birth. Damage to the brain could occur before, during, or shortly after birth"(“Cerebral”). Since the damage is done during the brain’s formation, and occurs in the part of the brain that controls motor and muscle functions, people with CP might have problems with motor skills, muscle tone, muscle weakness, reflexes, balance, excessive drooling, difficulties swallowing or speaking, shaking, tremors, and