💚 Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month - The different types of CP 💚

Following on from our post on what Cerebral Palsy is, here is the main types of Cerebral Palsy.

As you see, there is many types, and there are rarer types too.

This is why it is important to work with a disability qualified fitness instructor / PT. As not understanding the many types of CP can be devasting to the individual involved.

The different types are:

1. Spastic Cerebral Palsy

• Most common type (70–80%)

• Caused by damage to the motor cortex of the brain

• Characterised by stiff, tight muscles due to increased muscle tone (spasticity)

• May affect different parts of the body:

  • Monoplegia: Affects 1 limb either an arm or leg etc

  • Spastic Diplegia: Mostly affects the legs, making walking difficult, can affect upper body too.

  • Spastic Hemiplegia: Affects one side of the body (arm and leg)

  • Spastic Quadriplegia: Affects all four limbs and may involve speech and facial muscles

2. Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy (Dystonic & Athetoid CP)

• Caused by damage to the basal ganglia

• Main Characteristics are involuntary movements and fluctuating muscle tone

• Two main subtypes:

  • Dystonic CP: Sustained, twisting movements and abnormal postures

  • Athetoid CP: Slow, writhing movements, especially in the hands, feet, and face

• Muscle tone may change unpredictably from too tight to too loose

3. Ataxic Cerebral Palsy

• Caused by damage to the cerebellum

• Main characteristics are poor coordination, balance issues, shaky movements (tremors), and difficulty with precise movements (like writing or buttoning a shirt)

• Can also affect depth perception and fine motor skills

4. Mixed Cerebral Palsy

• Combination of two or more types of CP

• Most common mix is spastic-dyskinetic CP

• How it affects those with it, vary widely depending on which brain areas are affected