Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy is a condition which may be acquired during pregnancy, birth or in early infancy. Damage to the brain can lead to developmental problems due to weakness affecting the limbs, incoordination of movements, abnormal movements, spasticity or muscle tightness. Cerebral Palsy can affect all four limbs or one side of the body (hemiplegic cerebral palsy). Constraint induced movement therapy is an effective form of rehabilitation for hemiplegic cerebral palsy.

As a child with hemiplegic cerebral palsy develops they will acquire strategies to compensate for the movement difficulties in their weaker side by over-using the stronger side. The child learns to use their stronger arm predominantly for functional tasks and this is likely to persist into adulthood.