Clinical characteristics

Abstract

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most frequent motor disability in childhood, occurring in about 2 per 1000 live births. The motor impairment may be accompanied by disturbance of other functions, such as cognition, communication, perception, behaviour and epilepsy. The evaluation of the child includes: Differentiating CP from progressive causes of neuromotor disability and spinal lesions, to define the musculoskeletal impairment and decide on ways of treatment and to identify, evaluate and address accompanying impairments. Assessment of muscle tone, strength and selective motor control of specific muscle groups, contractures, posture, balance and equilibrium responses as well as severity of motor impairment. Classification according to predominant motor disorder into spastic, dyskinetic or ataxic CP. Spastic CP is the most common type, classified as uni- or bilateral spastic CP. Dyskinetic CP is classified as choreo-athetotic or dystonic CP. Special forms of ataxic CP, the least common type, are dysequilibrium syndrome and ataxic diplegia. More than half of the patients also have additional clinical problems, affecting activity and participation. The occurrence of accompanying impairments increases with gross motor severity, while some impairments are specific for the type of lesion and clinical CP type.