According to doctors in Los Angeles, cerebral palsy is really not one disorder, but is actually what is known as an umbrella term that covers several different disorders. These disorders are all known to affect the person's ability to move their body and their posture. It is caused by damage to one or more areas of the brain that control the movement and tone of the person's muscles. CP can also be caused by the improper development of these areas of the brain both before and after birth. One thing that many people do not realize in Los Angeles is cerebral palsy affects patients on different levels depending on which of the five types of disorder they are diagnosed with.
These types include ataxic, athetoid, dyskinetic, spastic and mixed. Of these spastic is the most common of which the symptoms are over abundant muscle tone that makes the person's movements appear to be awkward and stiff. These symptoms can affect one specific area of the body such as both legs or one side of the body or can affect the person's entire body. Other problems for people with cerebral palsy in Los Angeles include poor muscle and movement coordination and poor muscle tone, which can lead to poor balance and occasions of uncontrolled movements. It can cause the person to have problems with speech, chewing and swallowing as well breathing issues. There are also documented cases of mental retardation, seizures and learning disabilities that are a direct result of the disorder. Some patients have bladder and bowel control problems and many exhibit vision and hearing problems as well as dental problems. One thing that needs to be said about cerebral palsy in Los Angeles or anywhere else in the world is that the severity of the disorder varies greatly from one person to another and may decrease over time. CP is not considered a degenerative disease and as such is not considered fatal. There are many forms of therapeutic treatment available to help patients with CP overcome this disorder. You will need to consult with a professional therapist who can help establish a regimen of physical therapy, speech therapy and in many cases occupational therapy that are specifically designed to help.
One of the most common therapies for cerebral palsy in Los Angeles is the use of braces which have been proven to be very successful in the reduction of spasticity and helping to improve the patients' range of motion. Since CP tends to affect the legs most frequently, ankle-foot braces are the most commonly used ones and helps to reduce irregularities in the gait of the patient. When used with proper physical therapy the patients usually find that they can move with more speed and use far less energy. If you or a loved one would like to learn more about the different treatments available for cerebral palsy in Los Angeles, you need to talk to the staff at the Sensory Research Center. They offer individualized therapy programs designed to help each patient achieve their maximum potential. They believe that we all have the ability to overcome our disorders and lead a fulfilling and enjoyable life.