Natural history of cerebral palsy and outcome assessment

Abstract

Cerebral palsy (CP) is defined as "a group of permanent disorders of the development of movement and posture, causing activity limitation, that are attributed to nonprogressive disturbances that occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain. The motor disorders of CP are often accompanied by disturbances of sensation, perception, cognition, communication, and behavior, by epilepsy; and by secondary musculoskeletal problems." Though the neurological disturbance is nonprogressive, the natural history is for deterioration in gait and motor function due to musculoskeletal pathology. The natural history and outcomes of musculoskeletal problems are discussed. The measurement tools and comprehensive assessment used to evaluate gross motor function and gait impairments in children with CP are presented.