Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to move and maintain balance and posture.
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Cerebral palsy results from abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain that affects the ability to control muscles.
VerifiedDyskinetic cerebral palsy involves difficulty controlling movements of the hands, arms, feet and legs, which can make sitting and walking difficult. Its uncontrolled movements can be slow and writhing or rapid and jerky, and muscle tone can vary even within a single day.
VerifiedAtaxic cerebral palsy affects balance and coordination. People may be unsteady when walking and may have difficulty with quick or precisely controlled movements, such as writing or reaching for an object.
VerifiedSpastic cerebral palsy involves increased muscle tone: muscles are stiff, which can make movements awkward. It is usually described according to the parts of the body affected.
VerifiedDoctors classify cerebral palsy by the main movement disorder involved. Depending on the areas of the brain affected, more than one movement disorder can occur.
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