TYPES OF CEREBRAL PALSY

Cerebral Palsy is classified into four categories according to the type of disturbance in movement:

Spastic cerebral palsy.  This affects approximately 70 to 80 percent of individuals with the disorder.   Spastic cerebral palsy is characterized by muscles which are stiff and permanently contracted.   Spastic cerebral palsy is often described by doctors based on the limbs affected, and whether the affected limb is paralyzed (plegia) or weak (paresis).  Spastic cerebral palsy may affect one (hemiparesis) or both limbs.

Athetoid, or dyskinetic cerebral palsy.  Athetoid cerebral palsy affects about 10 to 20 percent of individuals with the disorder.  Atheoid or dyskinetic cerebral palsy is characterized by uncontrolled movements of the hands, feet, arms, or legs and, in some cases, the muscles of the face and tongue.  These slow, writhing movements often increase during periods of emotional stress and disappear during sleep. 

Ataxic cerebral palsy.  This is a rare form of cerebral palsy which affects an estimated 5 to 10 percent of individuals with cerebral palsy.  Ataxic cerebral palsy affects sense of balance and depth perception.  Typically, persons affected by ataxic cerebral palsy have poor coordination, walk unsteadily and exhibit difficulty when attempting quick or precise movements. 

Mixed forms.  Persons with cerebral palsy have symptoms of more than one of the previous three forms.  The most common mixed form includes spasticity and athetoid movements.