Question
What are the symptoms of pediatric cerebral palsy, and how should it be treated?
Answer
The symptoms of cerebral palsy primarily include stiffness in the limbs, unconscious involuntary movements in the limbs and head, and an increase in involuntary movements during purposeful actions. Cerebral palsy is also often accompanied by symptoms such as muscle tension, difficulty with abduction, severe muscle weakness, spasms, and joint flexion and extension postures. It may also be associated with sensory, cognitive, communication, behavioral impairments, as well as skeletal muscle abnormalities and epilepsy seizures. The treatment of cerebral palsy generally involves increasing joint mobility, regulating muscle tension, improving motor control, coordination, strength, and endurance to enhance motor function and self-care abilities. Common treatment techniques include positioning therapy, soft tissue stretching, muscle tension regulation, functional active exercise training, muscle strength and endurance training, balance and coordination control, as well as physical therapy.