Cerebral palsy treatments
Cerebral palsy is typically treated in order to make sure that the condition does not worsen over time. Unfortunately it is not curable and numerous complications can arise that are related to abnormal muscle tone and many other issues. In the main, cerebral palsy treatments are aimed at specifically improving your quality of life, allowing you to participate socially, to increase your strength, reduce disabilities, allow you to facilitate your own personal hygiene and to prevent any further complications. These complications may include joint problems and slowed growth.
How cerebral palsy is treated will very much depend on the needs and condition of the specific person:
Physical therapy is without doubt the most important of therapies for people that suffer with cerebral palsy. By training your muscles using certain exercises you may improve your balance, mobility and strength. This, of course, can lead to a greater independence for yourself. Cerebral palsy may cause certain limitations with your joints and your range of motion. One of the best ways to improve this is via stretching movements and exercises. Physical therapy will typically begin as soon as any delay in physical development or muscle tone abnormality is detected. In many cases physical therapy will continue for many years. You should always contact a specialist should you require assistance and recommendations for mobility devices such as wheelchairs.
Certain medications have often been used to treat cerebral palsy as they may help to relax weak and tight muscles and will also reduce the level of tremors and muscles spasms. Medications such as Botox or Phenol are often injected to help reduce areas of muscle spasticity. However if you are someone that suffers from seizures you may require a specific anticonvulsant medicine. Many people are unfortunate enough to suffer from additional medical conditions as well as cerebral palsy and this will, of course, require additional medication.
For the majority of children who suffer with cerebral palsy, their muscles unfortunately do not grow quick enough to keep up with the pace at which their bones lengthen. This will eventually lead to a loss of certain abilities and can also disrupt balance. Special braces known as Orthotic devices in combination with physical therapy can help to prevent this complication. This will actually help to stretch the spastic muscles.
Many people turn to surgery in their fight against cerebral palsy. This can assist and help you to loosen those stiff and tight muscles and can even correct certain problems such as a curvature of the spine. Surgery is also often used in patients who suffer from uneven growth. A surgeon may additionally implant a pump to deliver medications to the spinal-cord or to sever nerve roots and this will decrease spasticity and help to increase muscle tone.
Many children undergo surgery on their joints, muscles, nerves and tendons to place their limbs in the correct position. Surgery can also help your child with sitting and walking which will vastly improve their ability to use their hands. This, of course, can also help to avoid surgery again in the future.
Occupational therapy is often used to develop a person’s hand functions and hand skills. Additionally feeding and swallowing problems and difficulties are often addressed. You will also find that occupational therapists have a great deal of expertise in the type of equipment that can benefit you during your normal day and with your mobility.
Other treatments of cerebral palsy include the use of speech therapists that can help people improve their language skills and speech. This may occasionally involve using alternative means of communication. Both children and adults who suffer from cerebral palsy may also benefit from the use of a hearing aid, eyeglasses or even eye surgery.
Cerebral palsy can best be described as a group of disorders that are characterized by the loss of movement and nerve functions. Cerebral specifically refers to the brain and palsy will refer to the poor control of your muscles and weakness. Cerebral palsy is typically caused by certain severe forms of abnormal brain development. This will usually occur during fetal development, although it can also be caused by injuries to the brain from birth up to and including the first three years of your life. Cerebral palsy can affect people in many different ways. A mild form of cerebral palsy may only be noticeable in the form of a slight limp, whilst others have absolutely no control over certain limbs or parts of their body. However due to these many and varied treatments of cerebral palsy, many sufferers manage to live a perfectly normal and indeed extraordinary life.
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