About two children out of every thousand born in the United States suffer from some form of cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a broad term used to describe a group of chronic conditions affecting body movements and muscle coordination. These conditions can cause speech problems, gross and fine motor skill problems, and can make life much more difficult for a developing child. Children with cerebral palsy may not be able to walk, talk, eat or play in the same ways as most other children.

Physician and therapists classify and group cerebral palsy into three main categories: spastic cerebral palsy, althetoid cerebral palsy, and ataxic. Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common of the three, affecting nearly 80 percent of cerebral palsy sufferers.

Patients who are diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy have a damaged cerebral cortex in their brain that causes both sets of muscles to become active at the same time. Their messages flood the nervous system, including the spinal cord, the nerves, and the neurons and create a mixed message in the body that results in the muscle becoming rigid and unable to perform simple movement. If the muscle is forced to function, it causes a sudden, jerky movement.

Spastic cerebral palsy is categorized into five different types, depending on which parts of the body are involved. Diplegia is when two limbs, both hands or both legs, are affected. Hemiplegia is when one side of the body is affected while Triplegia is when only three limbs are affected. When just one limb is affected by cerebral palsy it is called Monoplegia. The last two, Triplegia and Monoplegia, are extremely rare. Diplegia, the most common form of spastic cerebral palsy, normally affects the lower limbs. They can become stiff with a scissor like posture, making movement impossible.

Spastic cerebral palsy, while not progressing, can change as the child grows older. Some children may suffer uncontrollable shaking and have urinary incontinence. They may also find it difficult to change position. A situation may occur where they are unable to let go of something in their hand because the muscles do not follow commands from the brain. Abnormal postures and deformities will also occur because of the rigid muscles.

Since it is the rigidity and stiffening of the muscles that causes the problems with spastic cerebral palsy, early treatment is beneficial. Treatment, such as physical therapy, will help a child who has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy by loosening the muscles so that the rigidity is kept to a minimum, which will help keep the muscles more flexible allowing for less spastic movement and a chance at a more normal life.

As cerebral palsy is often caused by a birth injury it is imperative that if you think your child’s condition was caused by a mistake made by a physician during or directly after birth you contact a lawyer. A knowledgeable birth injury lawyer will be able to validate your claim for compensation as well as be able to help you build a solid case in order to receive compensation for your child’s medical bills.