How Cerebral Palsy Impairs the Neuromuscular Mobility in Kids
When a kid suffers from neuromuscular mobility, it means that the nerve cells or neurons which are responsible for sending messages for muscles that can be controlled voluntarily, have been damaged. When communication fails, it leads to weakening of muscles, leading to difficulty in mobility. Cerebral Palsy is one of the conditions that lead to neuromuscular mobility in kids. The condition begins with the brain being unable to control the muscles. The condition varies from mild to severe and some of the problems that are likely to follow include, mental retardation, difficulties in hearing, speech, and motion.
The term Cerebral Palsy is used when referring to brain lesions that are not progressive and postural and motor irregularities are noticed in early development stages. When posture and movement is not well developed, limitations in activities arise due to the development in the brain of the infant or fetus, which is not progressive. When the neuromuscular mobility has been affected by cerebral palsy, it leads to seizure and problems in perception and communication too. The kid’s development and functioning of the neuromuscular mobility is majorly affected by cerebral palsy.
Brain lesions happen starting from the neonatal or fetal period until three years of age. However, after this age, if the brain is interfered with, symptoms similar to those of cerebral palsy will occur. Sometimes there is some degree of mental retardation. Due to difficulties with motor skills, impairment in communication and learning difficulties are often experienced. A multidisciplinary manner is essential in approaching cerebral palsy.
There are four kinds of cerebral palsy and the type is determined by the movement that is affected. The commonest one is spastic cerebral palsy and is found in around 80% of the patients. Such patients are hypertonic while they exhibit impairment of neuromuscular ability. This begins form the neuron lesion of the upper motor situated in the brain and in cortiospinal tract. With this kind of damage, there are nerve receptors that become impaired in terms of ability. The other type is Ataxic, which is least common. Certain motor skills are affected. The use of scissors, writing, and typing on a keyboard are examples of the motor skills that are affected.
With Ataxic, as the kid walks, there is difficulty in balancing. There are also other processes affected as well. It is common to find hearing and seeing problems with children suffering from the Ataxic form of cerebral palsy. The third type is athetoid and dtskinetic condition which is characterized by kids being unable to hold themselves, be it in upright position or being steady as you sit, walk or stand and motions are usually not voluntary. The last type is Hypotonia, and the patients have limp musculature, allowing minimum movement or none. Cerebral palsy is not curable, but the impairment in neuromuscular mobility is controllable. There are various treatments available to pregnant women to lessen the risk of giving birth to a child with cerebral palsy.