Cerebral Palsy Factsheet

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Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a lifelong physical disability that affects the way a person
moves. Caused by an injury to the developing brain, which usually occurs before
birth.

It is a lifelong condition, but its impact varies – it can be very mild or more severe,
where a person has almost no voluntary movement.

Conditions that may be associated with Cerebral Palsy

The impact of CP varies from individual to individual, but the disorder can also
associated with

• Epilepsy
• Vision/hearing loss
• Intellectual impairment
• Speech disorders

It is a permanent but not unchanging physical disability. In Australia, there are
approximately 33, 000 people with CP.

Different types of cerebral palsy

There are three predominant types of CP, with each characterised by different
movement conditions.

      1.Spastic Cerebral Palsy (SCP)

• Most common form, accounting for between 77-93 per cent of all cases
• Characterised by tight or stiff muscles
• When a movement is performed, groups of muscles become tighter and other groups of muscles relax. In people with SCP, both groups of muscles become tighter, making movement difficult or impossible

      2. Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy

• Accounts for between 2-15 per cent of cases
• Characterised by sustained or intermittent muscle contractions causing twisting and/or repetitive movements
• There are two forms of DCP:
  • Athetosis, characterised by uncontrolled, slow, writhing movements; and
  • Dystonia, characterised by sustained or intermittent muscle contractions causing twisting/repetitive movements

      3. Ataxic Cerebral Palsy

• Least common form of CP, accounting for 2-8 per cent of all cases
• Characterised by shaky movements or tremors
• Affects balance and coordination.

There are also mixed forms of cerebral palsy, where people have signs of more than one of the three types. The most common mixed form includes spasticity and dystonic movements, but other combinations are also possible.

How can Just Better Care help?

Just Better Care services are designed to enhance the lives of people with cerebral
palsy and their families. We offer individual support including: respite care, transport
to work and appointments as well as personal care services. Our staff are skilled and
ongoing education including the Certificate III and Certificate IV in disability care is
offered.