Associated Conditions of Cerebral Palsy: Physical Debilitation
Physical Debilitations
Because cerebral palsy is a condition in which there has been damage to the parts of the brain that control movement, children who have cerebral palsy often have various problems with their muscles and bones.  As young children, they may have a period where they seem floppy (low muscle tone or hypotonia).  Problems that might not become obvious until later are movement and muscle tone (how tight or loose muscles are).

Children with the spastic type of cerebral palsy (see section on types of cerebral palsy) are especially at risk to develop abnormal shortening of muscles (contractures), resulting in twistedness or deformity in the nearby areas.  The child’s affected muscles, which are often tightly flexed, do not grow at the same rate as other muscles.  Over time, in relation to the length of the bone, the muscles get tighter and tighter, causing more and more restriction of movement.

Depending on the joints involved, there are a variety of techniques that can be used to try to improve or lessen the difficulty.
  • Proper body positioning and sitting posture.
  • Bracing and surgical remedies that can be used to help the individual gain as much mobility, control, and range of motion as possible.

Extreme tightness in the groin and hips can often lead to hip dislocation in children with cerebral palsy.  Hip dislocation in children with spastic cerebral palsy is common and is related to the severity of the spasticity.  This dislocation can lead to significant pain if the dislocation is left untreated.  In addition to pain, the dislocated hip may cause difficulties with sitting ability and hygiene of their privates, and it may contribute to the pelvis getting out of line and skin breakdown.

The imbalance of muscle tone and strength can result in other skeletal (bone) problems such as scoliosis (an abnormal, sideways curving of the spine).  In young children who have poor control of their trunk muscles (between shoulder and hip), their spines may alternate curving to the left or right.  As they get stronger, they may achieve more trunk balance.

If the involvement of the muscles is of the quadriplegic type and the child is confined to a wheelchair, as they get older, the spinal curve will likely stiffen and become permanent.  If not treated, as the severity of the curve increases, the condition ultimately leads to respiratory and cardiac problems, and the individuals will no longer be able to sit or lie flat on their back.

Some children can be treated with bracing, but many will benefit from surgery. There are surgeries that can be performed on the spine so that it is straightened. After surgery, those children and adults with less impairment may walk standing straight, and they may regain proper sitting posture.

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Associated Conditions of Cerebral Palsy: Hearing, Depression, Breathing Problems,
Drooling, ADHD, ADD, Bowel issues, Swallowing, Epilepsy, Speech Problems.