Program for the Cerebral Palsied

Abstract

CEREBRAL PALSY is characterized by paralysis, weakness, incoordination, tremors, involuntary motion, excessive rigidity, or stiffness caused by pathology of the motor centers of the brain. This affliction may apply technically to adolescents, adults, or the aged. However, cerebral palsy is usually considered to mean those conditions resulting from an anomaly, injury, or disease that originates in the developing infant before or during birth or in the first years of growth (la). Daitmage to the brain may result in involvement of the upper and lower extremities and frequently includes the muscles of the trunk, neck, head, face, and breathing mechanism. Because cerebral inijury is not limited to a single area in the brain, numerous associated defects may accompany motor involvement. These may include one or more defects in speech, hearing, or vision, m-ental retardation, convulsions, and behavior disorders. The classificatioin of various types of cerebral palsy is based oni physical signls. A high percentage of cases may be classified either as spastic or athetoid types. In athetosis the individual displays involuntary, incoordinate, uncontrollable, purposeless movements. The spastic condition is characterized by the appearance of stiffness. Usually the spastic is able to move the affected limb voluntarily, but the motion may be explosive, jerky, slow, or poorly performed (B). The number of cerebral palsied in this country is difficult to determine. Three major studies analyzed in 1955 indicate that the prevalence rate of cerebral palsy is between 300 and 350 cases per 100,000 population (3). Of this number, 100 cases are under 21 years of age and 200 are 21 years of age and over. On the basis of the above figures it is estimated that the total number of cases in the United States falls between 495,000 and 577,500.