|
Spastic (pyramidal) CP is the most common type of cerebral palsy. It causes the muscles to be stiff and permanently contracted. Spastic cerebral palsy is often subclassified as one of five types that describe the affected limbs.
- Diplegia –either both arms or both legs
- Hemiplegia–limbs on only one side of the body
- Quadriplegia–all four limbs
- Monoplegia–one limb (extremely rare)
- Triplegia–three limbs (extremely rare)
Spastic diplegia affects the legs more than the arms. The legs often turn in and cross at the knees. This causes a scissors gait, in which the hips are flexed, the knees nearly touch, the feet are flexed, and the ankles turn out from the leg, causing toe-walking. Learning disabilities and seizures are less common than in spastic hemiplegia.
Persons with spastic hemiplegia (hemiparesis) also may experience hemiparetic tremors - uncontrollable shaking of the limbs on one side of the body. Severe hemiparetic tremors can seriously impair movement. The arm is generally affected more than the leg. Learning disabilities, vision problems, seizures, and dysfunction of the muscles of the mouth and tongue are classic symptoms.
Spastic quadriplegia involves all four limbs. There is dysfunction of the muscles of the mouth and tongue, seizures, medical complications, and increased risk for cognitive difficulties.
Athetoid (or dyskinetic) cerebral palsy is characterized by slow, uncontrolled, writhing movements of the hands, feet, arms, or legs (athetosis). Patients also may have abrupt, irregular, jerky movements (chorea), a combination (choreoathetosis), or slow rhythmic movements with muscle tone abnormalities and abnormal postures (dystonia).
The muscles of the face and tongue may be affected, causing grimacing and/or drooling. When the muscles that control speech are affected, the patient experiences dysarthria (abnormal pronunciation of speech). Hearing loss is commonly associated with this form of CP.
Ataxic cerebral palsy affects balance and depth perception. Persons with ataxic CP have poor coordination and walk unsteadily, usually placing their feet far apart. Many have trouble with quick or precise movements, like writing or buttoning a shirt. Some also have intention tremor, in which a voluntary movement, like reaching for an object, sets off trembling in the limb. The tremor becomes more intense as the person nears the target object.
Mixed CP involves two or more types of cerebral palsy. While any mix of types and subtypes can occur, the most common are athetodic-spastic-diplegic and athetoid-spastic-hemiplegic; the least common is athetoid-ataxic. It is possible to have a mix of all three (spastic-athetoid-ataxic).
|
