Cerebral Palsy in Babies: Treatment for Cerebral Palsy

 

Cerebral palsy is the combination of two words, cerebral which is related to the brain, and palsy means an issue associated with muscles. So in cerebral palsy, the abnormalities in the brain create problems for muscles. It occurs in children whose brain is immature and developing. It impairs the movement, creates spastic limb and trunk, floppiness, abnormal posture, involuntary movements, unstable walking, and exaggerated reflexes. The child with cerebral palsy suffers from swallowing seizures, and intellectual disability. Their eye does not concentrate on the same object. Their range of motion also decreases in different joints because of muscle stiffness. 

What are the sign and symptoms of cerebral palsy?

The symptoms include:

• Rigid or stiff muscles with exaggerated reflexes.
• Presence of ataxia .i.e. lack of balance and muscle coordination.
• The child experience tremors, and jerky involuntary movements. 
• The child will face problems while walking like he will use toes for walking. 
• The patient's gait might be a scissors-like gait crossing the knees. The gait can also be wide, asymmetrical, or crouched. 
• The child faces problems in performing fine motor skills .i.e. picking up utensils, and buttoning the clothes.
• Presence of dysphagia .i.e. difficulty in swallowing, and dysarthria .i.e. difficulty in speaking. 
• There will be delays in growth, speech development, and reaching the milestone of motor skills .i.e. crawling, sitting, running, jumping, etc.
• The child will face difficulty in learning and might have intellectual disabilities. 
• There might be a presence of epilepsy, a seizure disorder.
• The child can also have difficulty in hearing, and vision, and abnormal eye movement.
• Brain damaging can also create emotional disorders and behavioral problems. 

What are the causes of cerebral palsy?

Brain damage is the major cause of cerebral palsy which leads to abnormal brain development. The harm impacts the part of the brain which controls movement, coordination, and posture. The damage starts occurring before the birth, or in the first year after the birth. The other causes are:

Gene mutation: 

Mutation in the gene is the cause of abnormal brain development.

Fetal Stroke: 

During a stroke, the blood supply is affected and that can also lead to abnormal brain development. 

Head Injury: 

Infants who suffer from traumatic head injury can also develop cerebral palsy. The traumatic head injury results from a motor vehicle accident, falling from the building.

Maternal Infection: 

German measles and herpes simplex can impact the developing fetus which further leads to cerebral palsy.

Asphyxia Neonatrum: 

In an asphyxia neonatrum, the developing brain became deprived of oxygen level during labor and delivery. It can also cause the CP child.

Risk factors of cerebral palsy:

The babies are at high risk of developing cerebral palsy which include:

Viral Exposure: 

Viral exposure during pregnancy can increase the risk of cerebral palsy in the baby. Some of these viruses are: 

Herpes, syphilis, cytomegalovirus, German measles ( rubella). 

Infant disorder:

The presence of illness in the newborn child can be a high risk for developing cerebral palsy. These include viral encephalitis, bacterial meningitis, bleeding in the brain, and untreated jaundice.

Multiple Babies:

The risk is high if a mother gives birth to more than one baby and who shares the same uterus. 

Low Birth Weight:

The risk is high in babies whose weight is less than 2.5 kilograms. 

Premature birth: 

In premature birth, the baby is born too earlier and this increases the risk of developing cerebral palsy.

Treatment for Cerebral Palsy:

Although, cerebral palsy is not 100% cured suitable treatment can improve the daily functioning of the child. The treatment includes medications, therapies, assistive aids, and surgery. 

Medications: 

Those medicines which reduce muscle tightness are used for increasing functional abilities, reducing pain, and managing the complications of spasticity. These include:

Oral muscle relaxants: 

Diazepam (valium), baclofen, tizanidine (Zanaflex), dantrolene (Dantrium).

Drooling reducers: 

Botox injection to the salivary gland is also an option. 

Muscle or Nerve Injection: 

The doctor can also recommend botulin toxin A (Botox) and other agents as well.

Assistive Aids: 

The assistive aids improve the functioning capacity of the cp child. Several assistive aids include:

1. Walking aids
2. Wheelchairs
3. Eyeglasses
4. Body braces
5. Hearing aids

Therapies: 

Therapy has an important role in the treatment of cerebral palsy. The various therapy included in the CP child treatment are:

• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Recreational therapy
• Social services consultations
• Psychotherapy and counseling

Surgery:

There is some surgical method as well to reduce muscle tightness. These methods also correct the abnormalities of the bone which were happened due to the spasticity.

Orthopedic surgery:

Orthopedic surgery will help in relieving the pain and improving mobility. Children who have severe contracture, and deformities might need this surgery to correct their positions. 

Selective dorsal rhizotomy: This type of surgery involves the cutting of the nerves near the base of the spinal column. This method is applicable in severe cases where other methods are not useful. It reduces chronic pain, spasticity, and relaxes the muscles of the legs. 

Physical therapy of cerebral palsy:

Physiotherapy is recommended in CP children as the first line of treatment. The prime goal of physiotherapy is to improve motor skills and prevent the further worsening of movement problems. Physiotherapy also strengthens and reduces the pain in the body. In patients with mild CP, physiotherapy can only be the required treatment. In severe cases of CP, the other treatment and medications are performed in company with physiotherapy. 

How physiotherapy is beneficial in cerebral palsy?

With physiotherapy, improvement occurs in performing motor skills, and patient learn postural and movement skills. Muscle strength also increases, and patient become able to take part in sports, and recreation. Patient also get relief from the pain. 

What tools or equipment physical therapist use in the treatment of cerebral palsy?

For the betterment of walking, posture, and joint mobility, the physical therapist suggest these tools:

• Splints
• Braces
• Casts
• Shoe inserts

The other tools for physiotherapy include:

• Hot and cold packs
• EMS or electric muscle stimulation to stimulate muscles.
• Exercise balls
• Free weights
• Resistance bands
• Swimming pools

How to prevent from occurring the cerebral palsy in babies?

If you are pregnant and you don't want your baby to have cerebral palsy then you must take certain preventative measure to lower the risk. Get regular checkups with your doctor during the pregnancy as it will help you in preventing your baby from premature birth, infections, and low birth weight. Also getting vaccination against rubella can minimize the risk of cerebral palsy.