Types of Cerebral Palsy

All cases of cerebral palsy are caused by a defect in the brain that forms during its earliest developmental stages. The defect impairs the ability of the brain to exercise normal control over the movement of certain muscles in the body. This defect can form in one of several different parts of the brain. The exact characteristics of the resulting movement impairment will vary depending on the the location of the defect inside the brain. For instance, if the defect forms in the motor cortex region it causes one type of impairment, whereas a defect in the cerebellum region of the brain will result in a distinctly different type of impaired movement. As a result of these differences, cerebral palsy cases are classified into 1 of 4 distinct types. Classification is based on what specific type of movement disorder the individual suffers from. The 4 recognized types of cerebral palsy are: (1) Spastic (2) Dyskinetic (3) Ataxic (4) Mixed.  

Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Spastic is by far the most common type of cerebral palsy, accounting for over 75% of all cases. Spastic CP is primarily characterized by spastic stiffness and rigidity of the muscles which impairs normal movements. Spastic CP cases are further classified into 1 of 3 sub types based on location of the impairment.

SPASTIC CP

Ataxic Cerebral Palsy

Ataxic is least common type of cerebral palsy and it results when the brain defect forms in the cerebellum region. Ataxic cerebral palsy is primarily characterized by a severe lack of coordination, balance and depth perception. People with this type of CP have jerky or highly unstable movements.

ATAXIC CP

Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy

Dyskinetic cerebral palsy occurs when the defect forms in the basal ganglia area of the brain. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy suffer from 3 types of variable involuntary movements. These include twisting (dystonia); slow writhing (athetosis); and sudden, wild, dance-like movements (chorea). 
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DYSKINETIC CP

Mixed Cerebral Palsy

Mixed cerebral palsy includes individual cases that exhibit a combination of 2 of the primary types of cerebral palsy. This can result when separate brain defects occur in different parts of the brain. Spastic-dyskinetic is the most common type of mixed CP.
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MIXED CP