Cerebral Palsy & Spastic Hand
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a nonprogressive upper motor neuron disease that occurs due to injury of the immature brain during the pre-, peri-, or postnatal period of life. As the most common cause of neurological disability in children, the disease affects a patient’s movement and posturing, primarily through weakness, poor coordination, and hypertonic positioning, but it may also include sensory and/or cognitive damage. The upper limbs are often affected; significant wrist and hand involvement typically are noted at an early age. Its variable manifestations may change with growth and brain reorganization. Depending on the deformity or deformities present, conservative treatments like medications, bracing, botulinum toxin injections, and/or physical/occupational therapy may be effective for some patients. Surgical interventions may be needed for more severe cases and those in which conservative treatment fails.
Spasticity is a muscle control disorder that is characterized by tight or stiff muscles and an inability to control those muscles. In addition, reflexes may persist for too long and may be too strong (hyperactive reflexes). For example, an infant with a hyperactive grasp reflex may keep his or her hand in a tight fist. Spasticity is caused by an imbalance of signals from the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) to the muscles. This imbalance is often found in people with cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injury.
Spasticity is a muscle control disorder that is characterized by tight or stiff muscles and an inability to control those muscles. In addition, reflexes may persist for too long and may be too strong (hyperactive reflexes). For example, an infant with a hyperactive grasp reflex may keep his or her hand in a tight fist. Spasticity is caused by an imbalance of signals from the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) to the muscles. This imbalance is often found in people with cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injury.