Dystonic Cerebral Palsy

Understanding Dystonic Cerebral Palsy

The description about dystonic cerebral palsy is the term dystonic or dyskinetic cerebral palsy refers to a group of disorders characterized by abnormal fluctuating muscle tone, involuntary muscle action, and uncoordinated movement patterns.  Dystonic cerebral palsy cause by lesions in the basal ganglia typically cause fluctuations in muscle tone.

Assessment the dystonic cerebral palsy have subtypes there are athetoid cerebral palsy, ataxic cerebral palsy, rigidity cerebral palsy, hypotonic cerebral palsy and tremor or characterized by a rhythmic, alternating muscle contraction and relaxation that is involuntary.

Child with dystonic cerebral palsy have motor, sensory, cognitive, intrapersonal, interpersonal, self care, productivity, and leisure problems. About motor problems in dystonic cerebral palsy are muscle exhibit fluctuation of tone, subluxation or dislocation of joints, involuntary movements, difficult to stabilize joints, difficulty performing gross motor and fine motor activities, may have muscle spasme, lack of cocontraction and muscle grading. Asymmetry in both posture and movement, incomplete righting reflexes, equilibrium reactions, and protective response, asymmetrical tonic neck reflex may dominate motor activity.

The related problem dystonic cerebral palsy are sensory problems : hearing loss  or auditory disorder, hyper or hyporesponsive to vestibular stimulation, tactile stimulation, have eye motility problems, have visual perceptual disorders. The cognitive problems in child with dystonic cerebral palsy are difficulty learning due to mental retardation, learning disorders due to perceptual problems. Intrapersonal problems are may be emotionally labile, low frustration tolerance and poor coping skills, poor self image and low self esteem. Interpersonal problem is difficulty developing social relations. Self care problems are difficulty performing most activities daily living, will need assistance to develop independent living skills. Productivity problems have poorly developed play skills, writing skills, and need assistance to explore career options. About leisure problems in child with dystonic cerebral palsy is may have few leisure interests.