Brain Damage Caused by Cerebral Palsy

Children devastated by cerebral palsy do not just have limited mobility due to muscle deficits, but it is also based on which part of the brain has been injured and how traumatic the birth brain injury was. There are three distinct plateaus of motor malfunction based on brain damage:

Quadriplegia

When a child displays the effects of cerebral palsy in each of the four extremities, this is called quadriplegia. Quadriplegia makes it problematic for a person to move any part of their body, including the face, torso, arms, and legs. In its worst case, someone suffering from quadriplegia may need a wheelchair to transport themselves when their bodies are incapacitated.

Hemiplegia

Hemiplegia only impacts one side of the body, so either the right arm and right leg or left arm and left leg of someone with cerebral palsy is restricted in terms of range of motion. The opposite side still functions as if nothing is wrong. Children afflicted by hemiplegia can walk and run, but their gait will probably be choppy and feature a limp.

Diplegia

Youngsters with cerebral palsy that have limited use of their legs suffer from diplegia. Walking and running are most likely obstacles that they face, but their upper bodies are often strong enough to compensate for the lack of strength and stability in the lower half. Extensive use of their arms and hands gives them the ability to hold themselves upright, and with the addition of a walker or an elbow crutch, someone with diplegia can navigate successfully. It is possible for a child to be diagnosed with diplegia of the arms, as opposed to the legs, but the odds of this occurring are fairly slim.

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