Question
My classmate’s child is a preemie. Due to the long time of natural childbirth, the baby didn’t breathe at birth. It took the doctor four hours to get the baby to start breathing. Unfortunately, the child is now one year old and doesn’t cry or fuss, doesn’t know when to eat, can’t sit up, and can’t walk. What are the symptoms of a preemie with cerebral palsy?
Answer
After a preemie develops cerebral palsy, common symptoms include increased muscle tone and difficulty with abduction. Severe cases may present with rigid muscles, spasms, and joint contractures, accompanied by issues with sensation, cognition, communication, and behavior, as well as potential seizures. Depending on the classification of cerebral palsy, targeted rehabilitation training can be conducted, including gross motor skills, fine motor skills, balance, and coordination training. Physical therapy methods include massage and manipulation, utilizing techniques such as pushing, pressing, kneading, pinching, rubbing, combing, scratching, shaking, and shaping. These are applied based on the child’s age, condition, and symptoms. The effectiveness of rehabilitation is related to the proficiency of the techniques used.