WORLD CEREBRAL PALSY DAY, 2023: TOGETHER STRONGER (PART 1)
World Cerebral Palsy Day, launched in 2012, is celebrated on October 6th each year, and it has gained momentum in spreading its vision and purpose. This day is set aside to raise awareness and shed light on Cerebral palsy. The awareness is geared towards increasing support and acceptance for those living with this condition. The theme for this year’s event is “Together Stronger” . This theme perfectly describes what happens when love and acceptance is directed towards those with this condition.
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a condition that affects movement and posture. It is a developmental disability that affects coordination. It is mainly caused by a damage to the brain; this usually occurs before, during, and after childbirth. There are also few instances of inherited genetic causes in addition to brain related causes. Symptoms appear during infancy and childhood; these symptoms could be mild or severe in different people. About 17million people worldwide are living with this condition, for every 1000 births, there are 1 to 4 cases of CP. It is imperative to state that this condition can not be cured, but with quick intervention in treatment and therapy, individuals who have this condition experience improvement in their quality of living and can live independently of other people.
There are different types of cerebral palsy, they are:
- Spastic cerebral palsy: This type of CP causes the muscles to be stiff, leading to impaired movement.
- Dyskinetic cerebral palsy: it causes involuntary movement, people with this type of disability have difficulty controlling their movement.
- Ataxic cerebral palsy: It affects coordination and balance leading to difficulty with talking, walking and other activities that require coordination and balance.
- Mixed cerebral palsy: It is a combination of two or more of the other types of cerebral palsy.
The second part of the article will deal with the symptoms and causes of cerebral palsy, treatment methods will also be enumerated. At Enability Occupational Therapy, we apply a range of treatment methods in our treatment of those with cerebral palsy. You can reach us at info@enabilityot.com or enabilityot.com for more information and bookings.