What do the different types of cp mean?
There are four different types of cerebral palsy. Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common form, affecting approximately 70 percent of all individuals with cerebral palsy. Spasticity can be either a mild or severe impairment of motor functions. The affected limbs are usually underdeveloped, and there is a tendency for the individual to have a “scissor gait” or to toe walk. It is also common for the affected individual to have hypertonicity, an excessive tension of muscles. There are four sub-groups of spasticity: 1. Hemiplegia- involvement of both limbs on one side; the arm usually more affected. 2. Paraplegia- involvement of both legs; arms minimally involved, or not at all. 3. Quadriplegia or Tetraplegia- involvement of all limbs, usually to the same degree. 4. Diplegia- intermediate form between paraplegia and quadriplegia; both legs involved. Athetoid or Dyskinetic cerebral palsy occurs approximately 20 percent of the time. It is characterized by low muscle tone, slow, writhing mo
