Spastic cerebral palsy | |
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A child with spastic cerebral palsy | |
Specialty | Neurology |
Spastic cerebral palsy is the type of cerebral palsy characterized by spasticity or high muscle tone often resulting in stiff, jerky movements.[1] Cases of spastic CP are further classified according to the part or parts of the body that are most affected.[2] Such classifications include spastic diplegia, spastic hemiplegia, spastic quadriplegia, and in cases of single limb involvement, spastic monoplegia.[3]
Spastic cerebral palsy affects the motor cortex[1] of the brain, a specific portion of the cerebral cortex responsible for the planning and completion of voluntary movement.[4] Spastic CP is the most common type of overall cerebral palsy, representing roughly 80% of cases.[2] Spastic CP is a permanent condition and will affect an individual across the lifespan.[5] The brain injury that causes spastic CP remains stable over time, but the way spasticity affects a person can change.[1] For example, with age they may develop bone deformities from the pull of spastic muscles, muscular deterioration, and loss of range of motion in a joint.[1] Thus, individuals with spastic CP often have different support needs with time.[6]