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Cerebral palsy - Symptom

Alternative Names

Spastic paralysis; Paralysis - spastic

Symptoms:

Injury to the largest part of the brain (cerebrum) can lead to the loss of nerve functions in different areas. Many children with this condition have increased muscle tone (spasticity). Spasticity may affect:

  • One arm or leg
  • One side of the body (spastic hemiplegia)
  • Both legs (spastic diplegia)
  • Both arms and legs (spastic quadriplegia)

Symptoms are usually seen before age 2. In severe cases, they may appear as early as 3 months.

Symptoms may include:

Signs and tests:

A doctor's examination may reveal:

  • Abnormal walk (gait), with a tendency to tuck the arms in toward the sides, make "scissors" movements of the legs, and walk on the toes
  • Abnormal slow, writhing movements that get worse with stress and don't occur during sleep
  • Delayed development of motor skills (reaching, sitting rolling, crawling, walking)
  • Infant reflexes (such as sucking and startle) that continue past the age where they usually disappear
  • Joint contractures
  • Muscle contractions
  • Muscles that do not stretch (spasticity)
  • Muscle tremors
  • Muscle weakness

The following tests may be performed:

  • Reviewed last on: 9/21/2008
  • Jennifer K. Mannheim, CRNP, private practice in Autism Treatment and Research, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Krigger KW. Cerebral palsy: an overview. Am Fam Physician. 2006;73:91-100.

Johnston MV. Encephalopathies. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 598.

Whelan MA. Practice parameter: diagnostic assessment of the child with cerebral palsy: report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the Practice Committee of the Child Neurology Society. Neurology. 2004;63:1985-1986.

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