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Types of cerebral palsy

What are the types of cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy can be described by the way it affects people’s movement, the part of the body affected and by how severe the affects are.
quadriplegia cerebral palsy icon

What is Quadriplegia?

A form of bilateral cerebral palsy. Both arms and legs are affected. The muscles of the trunk, face and mouth are often also affected. Quadriplegia is the most severe of the three types of cerebral palsy.

diplegia cerebral palsy icon

What is Diplegia?

A form of bilateral cerebral palsy. Diplegic cerebral palsy affects both legs. The arms may be affected to a lesser extent. Many people with diplegia can walk but with difficulty or with the assistance of mobility devices.

hemiplegia cerebral palsy icon

What is Hemiplegia?

A form of unilateral cerebral palsy. When primarily one side of the body (one arm and one leg) is affected. Some people with hemiplegic cerebral palsy can walk, whereas others must rely on a wheelchair or other assistive devices.

How can you identify severity of cerebral palsy?

The following systems are used to identify the level to which a person is affected by cerebral palsy

Other classifications

Spastic (70-80%)

The most common form of cerebral palsy characterised by muscles that feel stiff and tight

Dyskenetic (6%)

Characterised by involuntary movements out of a person's control

Ataxic (6%)

Characterised by shaky movements, affects balance and sense of positioning in space

Mixed

A combination of types of cerebral palsy.

References:

  1. Cans, C., Dolk, H., Platt, M. J., Colver, A., Prasauskiene, A., & Krageloh-Mann, I. (2007). Recommendations from the SCPE collaborative group for defining and classifying cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 49(Suppl 1), 9-24.
  2. Krageloh-Mann, I., & Cans, C. (2009). Cerebral palsy update. Brain Development, 31(7), 537-544. doi: 10.1016/j.braindev.2009.03.009 See abstract
  3. McIntyre, S., Morgan, C., Walker, K., & Novak, I. (2011). Cerebral palsy–don’t delay. Developmental Disability Research Reviews, 17(2), 114-129. doi: 10.1002/ddrr.1106 See abstract
  4. Paneth, N. (2008). Establishing the diagnosis of cerebral palsy. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, 51(4), 742-748. doi: 10.1097/GRF.0b013e318187081a See abstract