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The term cerebral palsy refers to a number of neurological disorders that permanently affect movement and coordination. Though cerebral palsy is an incurable birth defect, treatment is available to help manage the disabilities associated with this birth injury. Generally, starting treatment early increases the likelihood that a patient will overcome developmental disabilities or learn new ways to complete challenging tasks. Physical Therapy The Mayo Clinic describes physical therapy as one of the most important therapies for children with cerebral palsy. Targeted muscle training and special exercises can help children improve their strength, balance and mobility, leading to greater independence. And stretching can be used to help slow the formation of contractures. A child with cerebral palsy may require physical therapy for many years, and this type of treatment generally begins as soon as muscle tone abnormality or developmental delay is detected. The cost of continued physical therapy can be overwhelming,…
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Hydrocephalus, once known as “water on the brain,” is a condition in which there is excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain. The fluid is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which is a clear fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord that keeps brain tissue buoyant, delivers nutrients to the brain and removes waste, and flows between the cranium and spine to compensate for changes in the amount of blood in the brain. With hydrocephalus, the excess CSF causes an abnormal widening of the four ventricles in the brain, which leads to harmful pressure on brain tissue. This form of brain damage can manifest itself as cerebral palsy, a birth injury that results from damage to the cerebrum, which controls motor skills, sensory functions and cognitive thought. Hydrocephalus falls into two categories in terms of its causation: congenital hydrocephalus, when it is present at birth and caused by something that happened during…
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