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CEREBRAL PALSY TREATMENT – PHYSICAL THERAPY
Physical therapy for cerebral palsy usually begins in the first few years of life, soon after the diagnosis is made. Cerebral palsy treatment often includes physical therapy programs with specific sets of exercises to work toward two important goals: preventing the weakening or deterioration of muscles that can follow lack of use (called disuse atrophy) and avoiding contracture, in which muscles become fixed in a rigid, abnormal position. Cerebral palsy therapy should be tailored to reflect these changing demands.
Contracture from cerebral palsy is one of the most common and serious complications of cerebral palsy. Normally, a child whose bones are growing stretches the body's muscles and tendons through running and walking and other daily activities. This insures that muscles will grow at the same rate. However, in children with cerebral palsy, spasticity prevents this stretching and, as a result, muscles do not grow fast enough to keep up with lengthening bones. The resulting contracture can disrupt balance and trigger loss of previous abilities. Physical therapy alone or in combination with special braces (sometimes called orthotic devices), works to prevent this complication by stretching spastic muscles. For example, if a child has spastic hamstrings (tendons located behind the knee), the therapist and parents should encourage the child to sit with the legs extended to stretch them. Contracture in cerebral palsy, even with intense cerebral treatment will not completely prevent some contracture, but without aggressive CP treatment, the child or infant will be burdened by the crippling effects of contractures.
Another important goal of cerebral palsy treatment are the physical therapy programs that work to improve the child's motor development. One well know physical therapy program is the Bobath technique, which is based on the idea that the primitive reflexes retained by many children with cerebral palsy present major roadblocks to learning voluntary control. A physical therapist using the Bobath technique tries to counteract these reflexes by positioning the child in an opposing movement. So, for example, if a child with cerebral palsy normally keeps his arm flexed, the therapist would repeatedly extend it.
Another cerebral palsy treatment approach to physical therapy is called "patterning," Patterning is based on the principle that motor skills should be taught in more or less the same sequence that they develop normally. In this controversial approach, the therapist guides the child with movement problems along the path of normal motor development. For example, the child is first taught elementary movements like pulling himself to a standing position and crawling before they are taught to walk -- regardless of his age. Some experts and organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, have expressed strong reservations about the patterning approach, because studies have not documented its value.
If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and you believe that your child's cerebral palsy may have been caused by a medical mistake, then call us for a Free & Confidential Consultation. Talk to a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer at 1-800-883-9858 or click here for a Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit Evaluation Form |
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FREE CASE EVALUATION
If your baby has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and you believe that medical malpractice may have occurred by your Doctors, ObGyn, nurses, assistants and/or hospital staff, then you may have a Cerebral Palsy Legal Action for legal damages against those that may have caused or contributed to your child's condition.
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COMMON QUESTIONS
Question: What are the most common causes of cerebral palsy?
Answer: During the birth, many times the child’s ability to obtain needed oxygen is a chief cause of cerebral palsy. It may result from premature separation of the placenta, too large of baby for the birth canal or pelvis, too long or too abrupt of labor, awkward and/or breech deliveries, cord entanglement, excessive Pitocin, shoulder dystocia, failure to order timely cesarean (c-section), placenta abruptus, excessive force or use of vacuum or forceps, and ruptured uterus. In additional cerebral palsy may occur when there is presence of birth asphyxia, a vaginal birth after a caesarean delivery (VBAC) with a ruptured uterus, neonatal depression, static encephalopathy, fetal bleeding, periventricular leukomalacia, fetal distress during labor, an abrupted placenta and/or hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy,
Question: What are the early signs that may indicate a birth injury or birth trauma may have occurred ?
Answer: Early signs of cerebral palsy may include but limited to low apgar scores, child born with low ph or acidosis, a child born with a bluish skin tone, seizure immediately after birth, cerebral edema, difficulty breathing on its own and a child born severely bruised at birth. These signs may show evidence of a forced delivery or excessive force or trauma on the infant during birth.
Question: What are the physical signs or common symptoms that indicate that a child may have cerebral palsy ?
Answer: A child with cerebral palsy may have limbs that are hard to move or stiff, underdeveloped limbs, muscular hypertonicity, muscle weakness and a tendency to contractures. Cerebral Palsy (CP) child may also exhibit involuntary or uncontrolled movements ,weakness, incoordination, wide-based gait, imbalance and difficulty in depth perception.
CEREBRAL PALSY TOPICS
Cerebral Palsy Definition
Cerebral Palsy Home
Causes of Cerebral Palsy
Signs of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy Symptom
Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis
Spastic Cerebral Palsy
Athetoid Cerebral Palsy
Ataxic Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy Treatment
Cerebral Palsy Malpractice
Neonatal Depression
Birth Asphyxia
Static Encephalopathy
Developmental Delays
Low apgar scores
Cerebral Edema
Acidosis (low ph)
Cerebral Palsy Lawsuits
Life Expectancy
Cerebral Palsy Therapy
Cerebral Palsy types
OB/GYN Lawsuit
Birthing Injuries
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