What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is a clinical condition that occurs due to damage to the motor function area of the central nervous system before, during, or after birth. In children, it most commonly presents as the spastic type, characterized by excessive muscle contractions and inability of muscles in various parts of the body to relax. Less commonly, it may appear as the hypotonic type, where muscles are too relaxed, or as the dystonia-athetosis type, characterized by involuntary, purposeless movements.
Causes of Cerebral Palsy
Causes During Pregnancy: Uncontrolled chronic diseases in the mother (such as hypertension, diabetes, thyroid disorders), certain infections during pregnancy, or the use of some medications required to be taken continuously can affect the baby’s health.
Causes During Birth: Oxygen deprivation to the brain due to reasons such as the umbilical cord being wrapped around the baby’s neck or prolonged labor, premature birth (especially before the 32nd week), low birth weight babies (under 1500 grams).
Causes After Birth: Brain or meninges inflammation, brain hemorrhage, prolonged and severe neonatal jaundice are among the postnatal causes of cerebral palsy.
How Should Cerebral Palsy Rehabilitation Be Conducted?
Successful cerebral palsy rehabilitation requires identifying the problems related to the motor system and planning and correctly applying physical therapy and rehabilitation methods. The goal of physical therapy and rehabilitation is to help relax overly contracted muscles, assist contraction of weak muscles that do not contract enough, improve balance and coordination abilities, and maximize mobility.
Starting physical therapy and rehabilitation early is very important. Early treatment aims to prevent abnormal postural reactions and muscle contractions, develop normal muscle contractions, prevent joint movement limitations and deformities, and help the child gain functional movement for self-care activities like feeding and dressing. Although progress may be slow, all these activities positively affect the quality of life.
The primary aim of treatment is to assist the brain in forming the correct motor response by integrating all information.
What is Done in Cerebral Palsy Rehabilitation?
Treatment of cerebral palsy is a team effort. A team consisting of a pediatrician, pediatric neurologist, physical therapy and rehabilitation specialist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, dietitian, and psychologist should closely monitor the child. If surgery is necessary, orthopedic and neurosurgeons should be involved. The family should be the focal point of the team’s efforts. The more knowledgeable, patient, and diligent the family is, the greater benefit the child will gain, equal to or even surpassing that of the medical team.
Sensory integration therapy also plays an important role in rehabilitation. Our brain organizes sensory inputs from the environment to use our body effectively in daily life and social interactions. In children with cerebral palsy, this organization is very difficult or impossible. Sensory integration therapy, applied to correct this disruption in sensory input and motor response flow, should be an integral part of rehabilitation.
At Rommer Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Center, physical therapy and rehabilitation for children with cerebral palsy are successfully implemented. Treatments are performed by experts in robotic rehabilitation and sensory integration therapy, which further increase the success rate.