Download Spastic cerebral palsy (spasticity) This is caused by impairment in

Spastic cerebral palsy (spasticity)
This is caused by impairment in the cerebral cortex of the brain and is
the most common form of cerebral palsy. It is characterised by constant
increased muscle tone and weakness in the parts of the body affected.
This increased muscle tone (hypertonia) creates tightness in the muscles,
leading to a decreased range of movement in the joints. The effects may
increase with anxiety or increased effort, leading to excessive fatigue.
Athetoid or dystonic, also known as dyskinetic cerebral palsy
(athetosis)
This is caused by impairment in the basal ganglia area of the brain. It is
characterised by involuntary and uncontrollable muscle tone
fluctuations, sometimes involving the whole body. The muscles alternate
between being floppy and tense and there will often be difficulty in
maintaining posture. The person usually has full range of movement in
their joints, but not the stability or co-ordination to control their
movements.
Unwanted movements may be small, rapid, irregularly repetitive,
random, and jerky, sometimes referred to as choreic movements. The
unwanted movements may also be of a long slow, writhing nature.
Someone with athetosis will often appear restless and constantly
moving, only being still when fully relaxed and sometimes only when
asleep.
The movements will often become worse when the person is excited or
is attempting to do something.
Speech is nearly always affected to some degree, because of difficulty in
controlling the tongue, breathing and vocal chords. Similarly there may
be difficulties with eating and, the person may drool (have saliva coming
out of their mouth).