Cerebral palsy, a range of non-progressive syndromes of posture and motor
impairment, is a common cause of disability in childhood. Cerebral palsy results
from various areas of damage to different areas within the developing nervous system,
which partly explains the variability of clinical findings.
Signs of cerebral palsy usually appear before the age
of three. The severity of symptoms varies. There is no cure but drugs can
help to control seizures
and spasms along with physical, occupational and behavioral therapy. Two
out of every 1,000 children in the US has cerebral palsy.
Cerebral Palsy Treatment
The treatment of cerebral palsy is directed at repair of the injured
brain and at the management of the impairments and disabilities resulting from
developmental brain injury. Currently, there are no clinically meaningful
interventions that can successfully repair existing damage to the brain areas
that control muscle coordination and movement. Management options
include physiotherapy, occupational and speech therapy, orthotics,
device-assisted modalities, pharmacological intervention, and orthopedic and
neurosurgical procedures. Since 1980, modification of spasticity by means of
orally administered drugs, intramuscular chemodenervation agents (alcohol,
phenol, botulinum toxin A), intrathecally administered drugs (baclofen), and
surgery (neurectomy, rhizotomy) has become more frequent.
Natural options for Cerebral Palsy
Traditional
medical techniques (physiotherapy, bracing, and orthopedic musculoskeletal
surgery) remain the mainstay of treatment strategies at this time. Limited
research indicates acupuncture,
biofeedback, may offer slight benefits.
The addition of an exercise training program to the standard care
of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy improves their physical fitness
and quality of life.
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Cerebral Palsy and Infections
Exposure to certain viral infections around the time
of birth is linked to cerebral palsy. Findings by researchers at the University
of Adelaide suggest that neurotropic infections -- viral infections that target
nerves, which include the herpes viruses, mumps and measles -- could trigger
brain damage and cerebral palsy, a group of disorders that impairs the control
of movement. The risk of cerebral palsy is nearly doubled with exposure to the
herpes B viruses, but other factors such as a susceptibility to infection or
prematurity may be needed for the disorder to develop.
Cerebral Palsy Cause
There is a higher incidence of cerebral palsy with in vitro
fertilization. The reason more children born after in vitro fertilization (IVF)
have a higher than average risk of cerebral palsy is largely due to the
association between IVF and preterm delivery.
Cerebral Palsy Research Update
Children with cerebral palsy
often suffer from uncontrolled drooling, but this can be reduced with an
injection of Botox. A scopolamine patch -- sometimes used for controlling motion
sickness -- helps reduce drooling, too, but the Botox treatments are associated
with fewer and less serious side effects.
Randomised control trial of tongue acupuncture versus sham acupuncture in
improving functional outcome in cerebral palsy.
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2004 Jul;75(7):1054-7.
Traditional Chinese medicine has been used historically in the
treatment of cerebral palsy. We investigated the efficacy of acupuncture in
improving the motor function of children with cerebral palsy. A randomised control trial was conducted to assess the effect of tongue
acupuncture (TAC) in 33 cerebral palsy children. The subjects were randomised to
treatment (n = 22) with TAC or control (n = 11). Clinical outcome was evaluated
using the gross motor function measure (GMFM) and the pediatric evaluation of
disability inventory (PEDI). The increase in mean GMFM score was
significantly greater in the treatment than in the control group.
An improvement in motor function of cerebral palsy subjects is seen
following a short course of acupuncture.
Effects of biofeedback treatment on gait in children
with cerebral palsy.
Disabil Rehabil. 2004 Jan 21;26(2):116-20.
We evaluated the effectiveness of
biofeedback treatment on gait
function in children with cerebral palsy. METHOD: Thirty-six children with
spastic cerebral palsy and dynamic equinus deformity were included in the study.
The biofeedback group consisted of 21 children who each received EMG biofeedback
training plus conventional exercise programme. The control group consisted of 15
children who each received conventional exercise programme only. Active range of
motion of the ankle joints, muscle tone of plantar flexors, and gait function of
the children were evaluated and compared. The biofeedback group
displayed statistically significant improvements regarding tonus of plantar
flexor muscles and active ROM of ankle joints (p < 0.000 for all parameters).
Gait function showed statistically significant progress in both of the groups,
but the biofeedback group was superior to controls. Children with
cerebral palsy and dynamic equinus deformities may benefit from biofeedback
treatment for ambulation.
Complementary and
alternative medicine use in families
of children with cerebral palsy.
Hurvitz EA, Leonard C, Ayyangar R, Nelson VS.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Pediatric Section,
University of Michigan Medical Center/Charles Stewart Mott Children's Hospital,
Ann Arbor, MI
Dev Med Child Neurol. 2003 Jun;45(6):364-70.
In order to assess patterns of usage of complementary and alternative
medicine (CAM) in families of children with cerebral palsy (CP), 213 families
with a child (0 to 18 years) with cerebral palsy were recruited at the university medical
center in Ann Arbor, MI, USA as part of a descriptive survey. Two hundred and
thirty-five surveys were distributed. Mean age of the child was 8 years 6 months
(SD 4y : 9mo) and 56% of the sample was male with 35% full-time independent ambulators, while the rest used an assistive device or a wheelchair. Fifty-four
percent were in special education classrooms. Families were given a survey on
functional status of the child with cerebral palsy, CAM usage of the child and the parent,
factors influencing the decision to use CAM, demographics, and clinical
information. Of the families, 56%, used one or more CAM techniques. Massage
therapy (25%) and aquatherapy (25%) were the most common. Children of families
that used CAM were significantly younger than non-users. Children with quadriplegic
cerebral palsy, with spasticity, and those who could not walk independently were more
commonly exposed to CAM. Mothers with a college degree
had a greater tendency to use CAM for their child than those without. Fathers of children who used CAM were older than fathers of
those who did not . There was
no significant difference between groups for mother's age, father's education,
income, or for population of home town. Parents who used CAM for themselves were
more likely to try CAM for their child, and were much
more likely to be pleased with the outcome. Child's age
(younger), lack of independent mobility, and parental use of CAM were the most
significant predictive factors identified via logistic regression.
Etiologies of cerebral palsy and classical treatment
possibilities
Wien Med Wochenschr. 2002;152(1-2):14-8.
Cerebral palsy is a non-progressive disorder of the developing brain with
different etiologies in the pre-, peri- or postnatal period. The most important
of these diseases is cystic periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), followed by
intra- and periventricular hemorrhage, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, vascular
disorders, infections or brain malformations. The underlying cause is always a
damage of the first motor neuron. Prevalence of cerebral palsy in Europe is 2-3
per 1000 live births with a broad spectrum in different birth weight groups. Our
own data concerning only pre-term infants in the NICU with birth weight below
1500 g (VLBW) are between 10%-20%. Established classical treatment methods
include physiotherapy (Bobath, Vojta, Hippotherapy), methods of speech and
occupational therapists (Castillo-Morales, Sensory Integration) and other
therapeutical concepts (Peto, Affolter, Frostig).
"Whole body" mobility after one year of intraoral
appliance therapy in children with cerebral palsy and moderate eating
impairment.
Dysphagia. 2000 Fall;15(4):226-35.
The reciprocal influence of body postures on the oral structures, but also of
the oral structures on body postures, has been proposed by clinicians and is
taken into consideration when treating children with poor postural control and
moderate to severe eating impairments. However, this relationship has not been
rigorously investigated. The purpose of this study was to document the possible
relationships among oral-motor, postural, and ambulatory control. Ambulatory
skills [exclusive use of wheelchair (w/c) vs w/c and ambulation], postural
control when sitting, "pathologic" reflexes, and lip and tongue posture were
recorded before and after one year of therapy with an intraoral appliance (ISMAR)
in 20 children with cerebral palsy and moderate eating impairment. Significant
improvement occurred in sitting (head-trunk-foot control) following one year of
ISMAR therapy. Ambulatory status also significantly improved above the level of
maturation. Half of the children showed marked improvement in oral posture,
i.e., their resting mouth posture was closed rather than open. These results
support an hypothesis of interaction between oral structures and postural
control of the "whole body." Further studies are needed to determine the
controls of such a relationship.
Zinc sulfate in the complex treatment of children with
cerebral palsy
Zhukovskaia ED, Semenova KA, Devchenkova VD, Morozova TP.
Zh Nevropatol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 1991;91(8):15-7.
Ninety-six children aged 3 to 14 years with cerebral paralysis in the form of
spastic diplegia of medium and grave intensity were examined. The majority of
the children showed disorders of zinc metabolism and of other types of
metabolism. To correct metabolic abnormalities, 20 children received zinc
sulfate in biological doses per os in addition to the main complex of treatment
measures. 38 children suffering from cerebral paralysis made up the control
group and were given a complex of routine rehabilitation treatment measures. It
has been established that introduction of the biotic doses of zinc sulfate into
the complex of therapeutic measures for children with cerebral paralysis in the
form of spastic diplegia favoured the improvement of metabolic processes, the
clinical health status of the children, and enhancement of the body defence
properties.
Cerebral palsy treatment emails
Q. I have very mild cerebral palsy and may benefit from dopamine increase. I
would like to try this. Which one of your herbal products would you suggest?
A. The treatment of cerebral palsy is not an area we have studied
in detail and we are not aware of the benefit of dopamine increase for this
medical condition.
cerebral palsy