Effective Cerebral Palsy Treatment

Cerebral palsy is a condition that affects an individual's ability to control muscles, coordination and motor function. This condition is defined as cerebral because the causes of the difficulties stem from damage in specific areas of the brain that deal with motor and muscle control. Palsy describes the areas in the body in which the individuals is unable to fully control, including posture and motor functions.

Early Intervention with Therapies

• Cerebral palsy is rated either mild, moderate or severe. Even with these degrees assigned to the condition, individuals have different symptoms and varying severity within the degree classification. The symptoms will depend on the areas of the brain affected. The areas can include those controlling sight, hearing, speech, motor skills, bladder, bowels, mobility, swallowing, feeding, skin disorders, learning disabilities and mental retardation.
  An individual with cerebral palsy will benefit from early intervention of many types of therapies. Physical therapy is used to prevent the weakening and deterioration of unused muscles and relieving contracture. Physical therapy is used for strength training that will increase the performance of muscles.
  Occupational therapy focuses on the individual's upper body to accomplish activities of daily living such as eating, dressing, bathing, cooking and bathroom functions.
  Recreational therapy focuses on gross motor skills and will have a substantial effect on the individual's self-esteem. Horseback riding is one form of recreational therapy.
  Speech and language therapy is essential for building communication skills, but it also plays a role in swallowing and feeding if there are postural difficulties.

Controversial Therapies

• Some controversial therapies have been used to control cerebral palsy. Some individuals have benefited from physical therapies that focus on breaking the patterns of abnormal movement caused by the disorder. This is controversial because of a lack of data showing its effectiveness on motor control. However, some progress has been documented on individual basis.
  Conductive therapies combine physical therapy and rhythmic activities. The belief is that the rhythmic activities stimulate another portion of the brain and it will improve the individual's motor abilities.

Medications and Medical Interventions

• Medications are essential in the treatment of cerebral palsy because the medication relaxes muscles that are overactive, stiff or contracted. There are side affects to the medications, but overall the medication improves the cerebral palsy symptoms. Medications include diazepam, dantrolene sodium, tizanidine and baclofen.
  Some substances can be injected into the muscles to reduce the muscle spasticity. Alcohol "washes" or injections into the muscle can reduce the spasticity for up to two years.
  Botox has been used with significant results. For an individual that has not been able to communicate previously, the use of botox allows those individuals to write or using a touch-screen computer. Botox, also known as botulism toxin, allows tightness in the muscles to lessen. The individual is then able to control movements better. Botox also benefits the individual by allowing the muscles to stretch. This is crucial to reduce the chance of permanent muscle contractions common in individuals with cerebral palsy.
  A pump that can be implanted in the body has the ability to release baclofen into the spinal cord fluid that surrounds the spinal cord. Baclofen is a muscle relaxant and affects the nerve cells in the spinal cord keeping the nerve cells "under control" or less excitable. This method of treatment will reduce the level of pain and spasticity a patient feels and will then allow the patient to relax and sleep.
  Surgeries can be performed that will lengthen the muscles and tendons to improve a person's gait. In the event the individual is not a candidate for this type of surgery, there are adaptive devices that can assist mobility. An individual can receive assistance with sitting, walking and communication. There are devices that will support an individual in sitting, moving them in and out of bed, walkers, canes, gait poles, manual and electric wheelchairs. Communication boards, picture boards and computers have given communication to individuals who would normally not be able to communicate.