Cerebral Palsy - Treatment Overview
Cerebral palsy (CP) cannot be cured. But a variety of treatments can help people with CP to maximize their abilities and physical strength, prevent complications, and improve their quality of life. The brain injury or problem that causes CP does not get worse over time. But new symptoms can appear or become worse over time because of how a child grows and develops.
Specific treatment varies by individual and changes as needed if new issues develop. In general, treatment focuses on measures that maintain or improve a person's quality of life and overall health.
Initial treatment
Physical therapy is an important treatment that begins soon after a child is diagnosed and often continues throughout his or her life. This therapy also may begin before a definite diagnosis is made, depending on the child's symptoms.
Medicines can help control some of the symptoms of CP and prevent complications. This treatment may include injectable antispasmodics to help relax tight muscles and improve range of motion. Other medicines may be used for common problems related to cerebral palsy, such as anticonvulsant medicines for seizures.
In some cases, orthopedic surgery (for muscles, tendons, and joints) or selective dorsal rhizotomy (cutting nerves of affected limbs) for contracture or other mobility problems is performed soon after diagnosis on a baby or very young child with severe problems.
Often the biggest problem for parents is fear of the unknown. Learning about CP can help you to understand the condition and be familiar with some of the challenges and joys of raising a child with cerebral palsy. Being informed can help give you a sense of control about how best to help your child. For more information, talk to your doctor or see the Other Places to Get Help section of this topic.
Ongoing treatment
Ongoing treatment for cerebral palsy (CP) focuses on continuing and adjusting existing treatments and adding new treatments as necessary. Although the brain injury that causes CP does not get worse over time, some of its effects can appear for the first time, change, or become more severe as a child gets older.
Regular visits with your child's doctor and specialists are important for monitoring your child's condition. These visits may include tests, such as questionnaires to evaluate whether new developmental milestones are being achieved as expected, or periodic blood tests to find out about the effects of medicine your child may be taking. Your child should also have regular eye, hearing, and speech evaluations.
Other tests may be done to find out whether common problems related to cerebral palsy have developed. These problems can then be treated as they appear.
Ongoing treatment for cerebral palsy may include:
- Physical therapy. This is usually an important part of ongoing treatment for CP and can help your child become as mobile as possible. It may also help prevent the need for surgery. If a child has surgery, intense physical therapy may be needed for 6 months or more.
- Monitoring of any medicines being taken, to help control symptoms and prevent complications. Medicines may include antispasmodics or injectable antispasmodics to help relax muscles and reduce spasms, anticonvulsants to help treat seizures, or anticholinergics to help manage uncontrollable body movements (dystonic cerebral palsy) or frequent drooling.
- Orthopedic surgery (for muscles, tendons, and joints) or selective dorsal rhizotomy (cutting nerves of affected limbs) to try to prevent problems with bones and related muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
- Special devices and equipment, such as braces, casts, and splints. The specific types used depend on a child's needs. For example, a child may get a cast after surgery or as a means to restrict movement in one area to strengthen muscles and tendons in another part of the body.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Cerebral Palsy Topics
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