Essay On Cerebral Palsy

Occupational therapists intervene in the lives of individuals who are physically and mentally incapable of performing daily routines. Occupational therapists treat individuals with a variety of disorders including cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is one of the more serious disorders occupational therapists have to come across in their careers. In actuality, cerebral palsy refers to a group of disorders and is prominent in children, “Cerebral palsy is a blanket term that refers to a group of disorders that affect a child’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture and is the most common motor disability in childhood” (Anonymous). Cerebral palsy is divided into two types—Congenital Cerebral Palsy and Acquired Cerebral Palsy—both having similar underlying effects that vary from child to child.

The first type of cerebral palsy, congenital cerebral palsy, may be caused by a variety of factors. There are seven factors that can cause congenital cerebral palsy: women who use infertility treatments to aid them in bearing a child; oxygen supply being cut off to the fetus due to uterine rupture, umbilical cord problems, or detachment of the placenta; accumulation of bilirubin in the blood
Cerebral palsy can lead to the hardening of muscle tissues, inhibition of bone growth, stooping of bones, and the dislocation and deformation of joints—resulting in a myriad of physical and mental issues. Mobility issues are common in individuals with cerebral palsy. 1 in 3 children will be unable to walk and sit independently. A more severe mobility issue in children includes spastic quadriplegia, which affects the entire body—mainly the limbs—and is similar to paralysis. Muscle degradations are also present around the mouths and tongues of individuals with cerebral