Cerebral Palsy

Fact Sheet 2023

The Neuroscience Behind Cerebral Palsy & Areas of the Brain

Overview: What is Cerebral Palsy? What
causes it? What is the prevalence? What are
the co-existing conditions?
Cerebral Palsy (CP): A condition that is non-progressive
and caused by abnormal development of the brain or
damage to the developing brain that affects a child’s ability
to control their muscles. 3
Etiology: Cerebral Palsy can occur in prenatal, perinatal, or
postnatal periods in a child’s development.
• Prenatal: congenital brain formations,
intrauterine infections, intrauterine stroke
• Perinatal: CNS infections, stroke, kernicterus,
and hypoxic-ischemic insults
• Postnatal: Trauma, CNS infections, strokes,
anoxic insults. 4
Prevalence: Although studies vary, around 2.3 to 3.6 of
every 1,000 individuals in the United States have Cerebral
Cerebral Palsy occurs from abnormal development or damage to some
brain regions, including the cerebral motor cortex, basal ganglia, and
cerebellum.
Cerebral Motor Cortex – Lesions or abnormalities in the motor cortex cause
upper motor neurons to become hyperactive and send too many messages
without relaxation through the nerves to the muscles resulting in tone or
spasticity. Therefore, too many messages are sent down the corticospinal
tract to the trunk and limbs, causing increased muscle tone. This is the most
common type of Cerebral Palsy
Basal Ganglia – Lesions or abnormalities in the basal ganglia can cause
uncontrollable fast or slow movements (dyskinesia) since that is the area of
motor control and motor learning.
Cerebellum – Lesions or abnormalities in the cerebellum can cause poor
balance and coordination (ataxia) since that is the area that is responsible for
balance and posture control, coordination, and motor learning. 2

Palsy. 6
Co-Existing Conditions: A variety of conditions can occur
along side CP including epilepsy, speech impairments, The Effect on Occupational Activity
pulmonary disease, blindness, urological conditions,
hearing impairments, growth failures, & more. 4 With Cerebral Palsy, occupations within all categories are
affected. However, one specific occupation within education is
Types of CP & The Effects on Daily FunctionContact Informatio formal education participation:
• Stiffness caused by increased muscle tone affects an
Spastic Cerebral Palsy – This increases muscle tone and
individual’s ability to walk efficiently.
affects the ability to execute the voluntary movement.
Therefore, stiffness occurs in the legs and occasionally in • The OTPF-4 explains formal education participation
the arms making daily walking an issue. includes nonacademic including lunchroom, recess,
Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy – This involves fast or slow
and the hallway.1
movements of hands, arms, feet, and legs and can affect
daily sitting, walking, swallowing, and talking. • Therefore, an individual would struggle to walk down a
Ataxic Cerebral Palsy - This affects coordination in legs crowded hallway at school, walk through a cafeteria
and arms, causing muscle weakness, visual and auditory
line to get food on a tray, and keep up the same speed
processing, and tremors affecting daily functions,
with other children at recess.
including walking, processing environmental stimuli, and
grasping objects. 4

The Latest Research & The Role of OT References

• Occupational therapists works with children with cerebral palsy to help with
occupations, including play, education, and ADLs as well as fine motor skills,
cognition, and visual-spatial problems.
• The latest research has uncovered the critical role of occupational therapists in
determining the factors that can affect parents' ability to take care of their
1. American Occupational Therapy Association. (2020). Occupational therapy
practice framework: Domain and process (4th ed.). American Journal of
Occupational Therapy, 74(Suppl. 2), 7412410010.
https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.74S2001
2. Cerebral palsy. Reeve Foundation. (2023). Retrieved March 19, 2023, from
https://www.christopherreeve.org/living-with-paralysis/health/causes-of-
paralysis/cerebral-palsy
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, May 2). Causes and risk
factors of cerebral palsy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

children with CP. Retrieved March 19, 2023, from

• It was uncovered that environmental factors such as economic cost and burden
of care, the communication of the OT, and access to services could be barriers to
the ability of parents to take care of children with cerebral palsy.
• Therefore, occupational therapists could not only treat children with cerebral
palsy but also work with parents to help them develop techniques to take care of
their child with cerebral palsy at home. 5
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/cp/causes.html
4. Hallman-Cooper, J. L., & Cabrero, F. R. (2022, October 10). National Center
for Biotechnology Information. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved
March 19, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538147/
5. Leeba Rezaie & Sadiqa Kendi (2020) Exploration of the Influential Factors
on Adherence to Occupational Therapy in Parents of Children with
Cerebral Palsy: A Qualitative Study, Patient Preference and
Adherence,14:, 63-72, DOI: 10.2147/PPA.S229535
6. Prevalence of cerebral palsy. cerebralpalsy.org. (2023). Retrieved March 19,
2023, from https://www.cerebralpalsy.org/about-cerebral-
palsy/prevalence-and-incidence