What Is Spastic Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy?

Spastic hemiplegic is one classification of cerebral palsy (CP), a neurological disorder that affects body movement and muscle coordination.

Spastic Hemiplegic CP

• Spastic CP refers to cerebral palsy that causes tight/stiff muscles. Hemiplegic CP affects one side of the body and tends to be more prominent in the upper body (arm and hand). Therefore, individuals with spastic hemiplegic CP have tight muscles in one half of the body. The muscle tightness is usually more prominent in the upper body.

Diagnosis

• The earliest signs of spastic hemiplegic CP can be seen by the age of five months. Indicators of spastic hemiplegic are developmental delay and awkward hand movements.

Symptoms

• Delay in speech and walking are early symptoms of spastic hemiplegic CP. The most common symptoms are tight and weak muscles. Seizures may occur depending on the portion of the brain that is damaged. Only 25% of people with spastic hemiplegic CP are mentally challenged.

Treatment

• There is no cure for cerebral palsy. Physical therapy is the most common form of treatment for spastic hemiplegic CP. Other treatment methods include surgery for limb deformities, medication to control muscle spasms, and orthopedic devices to improve stability.

Considerations

• Cerebral palsy is not a progressive disease, but the disability does make patients more vulnerable to secondary conditions. Secondary conditions associated with spastic hemiplegic CP are scoliosis (abnormal curving of the back) and toe walking, which is a condition common in toddlers, but they typically grow out of it by the age of six.