05/03/2024
March is Cerebral Palsy awareness month
MARCH IS CEREBRAL PALSY AWARENESS MONTH
WHAT IS CEREBRAL PALSY?
Cerebral palsy is a physical disability resulting from injury to the developing brain during pregnancy, birth, or shortly after birth. It results from damage to the parts of the brain that control movement, balance, and posture.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF CEREBRAL PALSY VARIES, BUT OFTEN INCLUDE:
• Lack of muscle coordination when performing voluntary movements (ataxia)
• Stiff or tight muscles and exaggerated reflexes (spasticity)
• Weakness of the legs and arms
• Shaking or random involuntary movements
• Delays in reaching motor skill milestones
• Difficulty with fine motor activities like writing or buttoning up
Illnesses during pregnancy, premature birth, and meningitis in young children are the leading causes of cerebral palsy.
When damage to the developing brain occurs, it causes motor function impairment, leading to movement and coordination problems.
An individual with cerebral palsy may have other linked disabilities, including behavioural, intellectual, speech, and visual disabilities.
