Cerebral Palsy

What is cerebral Palsy (CP)?

• CP is a disorder of movement and posture due to a defect or lesion of the immature brain

• CP affects body movement, muscle co-ordination, muscle control, balance, muscle tone, posture and reflexes

• It can have a negative impact on fine motor skills, oral motor functioning and gross motor skills

Can CP be prevented?

• Not entirely, but pregnant mothers should go for regular checks

How can a person/child with CP be helped?

• Movement should occur on a daily basis

• Different positions throughout the day

• Different environments should be experienced by seeing, touching in different situations which develops a sense of self worth and responsibility

• Children with CP must interact in play to develop appropriate behaviour and social rules

• Encourage child with CP to make own decisions and choices e.g. "What would you like to have for lunch?"

• Encourage all forms of communication (some cannot talk)

• Eating different foods and textures help mature eating and drinking skills

• A few easy exercises that you can do with your CP child:

1. Movement of upper limb

2. Movement of lower limb