Cerebral palsy is a neuromuscular disorder characterized by a lack of control of voluntary muscles and abnormal muscle tone and movement. It usually appears in childhood and there are several types including spastic, dyskinetic/athetoid, ataxic/atonic, tremors, and mixed. Risk factors include preterm birth, being a twin, infections during pregnancy, difficult labor/delivery, and developmental brain anomalies. Signs and symptoms include abnormal posturing, difficulty feeding, tremors or seizures early on and delayed motor development later on. Treatment involves exercise, medications, braces and ambulatory devices while diets should be high calorie and fluids adequate. Caregivers are responsible for promoting nutrition,

1. CEREBRAL PALSY
– a neuromuscular disorder characterized by lack of control of the
voluntary muscles, spastic and involuntary movements, abnormal
muscle
tone and incoordination.
It usually appear in childhood.

2. TYPES OF CEREBRAL PALSY
TYPES CHARACTERISTICS
SPASTIC Poor posture, increased muscle tone, scissoring of
the legs
Dyskinetic/
Athetoid
Involuntary muscle, disappear when asleep
Ataxic/Atoni
c
Wide-base gait, poor balance and coordination
Tremors Uncontrollable
Mixed Spastic and athetoid type, ataxia and athetoid
movements

3. RISK FACTORS
Preterm birth
Being a twin
Certain infection during pregnancy
Difficult labor/delivery
Developmental brain anomalies

4. SIGN AND SYMPTOMS
 EARLY SIGN
- Abnormal posturing
- Difficult feeding
- Tremors/ seizures
 LATER SIGN
- Delayed motor development

5. TREATMENT
Exercise; Passive and Active
Medicines (Muscle relaxant,
anticonvulsants, tranquilizers)
Braces, ambulatory devices (crutches,
walker)

6. DIET RECOMMEND
Increased calorie to meet additional
demand of constant muscle movement
Ensure adequate fluid

7. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Begins with simplest skill
Participate in programs and physical
activity

8. CAREGIVER RESPONSIBILITY
Promote adequate nutritional intake
Promote maximum mobility and
developmental of self-help skill
Ensure safety when ambulating