What is Cerebral Palsy?

STEPtember images. Two children with Cerebral Palsy smiling and encouraging people to participate in Steptember

For the whole of this month, Total Rehab Solutions is participating in STEPtember! STEPtember is an amazing cause that aims at raising awareness and funds for Australians with Cerebral Palsy.

No matter where you choose to participate from, every step you take and every dollar you raise supports a wide range of initiatives, helping people living with cerebral palsy to live their best lives.

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Every 20 hours, an Australian child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

Cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability in childhood. It’s caused by damage to the developing brain either during pregnancy or shortly after birth – directly affecting a person’s movement and posture for life disability in childhood and over 34,000 people live with CP in Australia.

CP Facts

  • Every 20 hours, an Australian child is born with cerebral palsy.
  • It is the most common physical disability in childhood.
  • Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term for a group of disorders. It is a condition that is permanent, but not unchanging.
  • Cerebral palsy is a life-long physical disability due to injury of the developing brain.
  • In most cases, brain injury leading to cerebral palsy occurs during pregnancy.
  • Cerebral palsy, except in its mildest forms, can be evident in the first 12-18 months.
  • Motor disability can range from minimal to profound, depending on the individual.
  • It can range from weakness in one hand to an almost complete lack of voluntary movement. People with significant physical disabilities may require 24-hour daycare.
  • People with cerebral palsy are likely to also have other impairments in addition to their motor disability.
  • Spastic hemiplegia, where one-half of the body has difficulty with voluntary movement, is the most common presentation of cerebral palsy. Approximately 40% of people with cerebral palsy have hemiplegia.
  • There is no known cure.

CP Treatment- How Our Team Can Help

Although cerebral palsy is a lifelong disability, there are many interventions that can help reduce its impact on the body and the individual’s quality of life.

Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy

Physiotherapists and Occupational therapists focus on encouraging a person’s day-to-day movement skills such as sitting, walking, playing, dressing and toileting. They will use a range of specialist interventions such as movement training and equipment, e.g. walking frames, wheelchairs, supportive seating, footwear, and orthotics.

Stay up to date with our STEPtember process via our socials and if you want to learn more about how we can help with CP click here.

References:

Cerebral Palsy Org

STEPtember