What is ataxic CP?
People with cerebral palsy have it for life. Ataxic (ah-TAK-sik) CP is one type of cerebral palsy. Kids with ataxic cerebral palsy have trouble with balance and coordination. They may walk with their legs farther apart than other kids and have a hard time with activities that use small hand movements, like writing.
What is the most common therapy strategy to help CP?
A variety of therapies play an important role in treating cerebral palsy:
- Physical therapy. Muscle training and exercises can help your child’s strength, flexibility, balance, motor development and mobility.
- Occupational therapy.
- Speech and language therapy.
- Recreational therapy.
What causes ataxic CP?
Ataxic cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the balance center of the brain, the cerebellum. The cerebellum is responsible for fine-tuning movement commands for the body, and damage to this area results in poor coordination and lack of balance.
Do people with cerebral palsy have ataxia?
Ataxia is the least common form of cerebral palsy. Ataxia means ‘without order’ or ‘incoordination’. Ataxic movements are characterised by clumsiness, imprecision, or instability. Movements are not smooth and may appear disorganised or jerky.
How is occupational therapy used to treat ataxic cerebral palsy?
Occupational therapy can help improve problems with balance or coordination in children with ataxic cerebral palsy while increasing their upper body strength. The main goal of occupational therapy is to provide a child with ataxic CP with the skills they need to perform daily tasks on their own and decrease the use of assistive devices.
What happens to a child with ataxic cerebral palsy?
Cerebral palsy (CP) affects muscle movement and control. People with cerebral palsy have it for life. Ataxic CP is one type of cerebral palsy. Kids with ataxic cerebral palsy have trouble with balance. They may walk with their legs farther apart than other kids.
How often should a child with cerebral palsy see an occupational therapist?
Most children with cerebral palsy need to be reevaluated every six to nine months. After these evaluations, the occupational therapist will tweak the treatment plan accordingly based on progress and change.
How does occupational therapy help with sensory processing disorder?
Occupational therapy can help to improve physical, cognitive and social abilities, as well as fine motor skills and posture. This therapy can also help address difficulties with processing sensory information.