What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect movement and muscle tone as well as balance and posture. It’s caused by damage that occurs to the immature, developing brain, most often before birth.

What are the signs and symptoms of CP?

Some signs and symptoms of CP is impaired muscle coordination, spastic paralysis, involuntary movements, reduced movements at joints, eye muscle imbalance, hearing, and vision problems. However, the severity of CP varies from individual.

The classifications made for CP are dependent on which area of the brain is affected and one or more can occur. There are four types:

1) Spastic Cerebral Palsy- which is the most common and affects around 80% of those with CP.
2) Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy- People with Dyskinetic CP often have trouble controlling the movement of their hands, feet, and legs which makes it difficult to walk.
3) Ataxic Cerebral Palsy- causes individuals to have problems with coordination and balance. They might have a hard time with quick movements.
4) Mixed Cerebral Palsy- Some individuals have more than one type of CP.

Does CP ever go away?

No, there is no cure for CP, it does not ever go away. There are treatments and activities that can help with muscle tone.

What frequency does CP occur?

CP is fairly common, there are 200,000 cases of CP each year within the U.S.

How does Push to Walk (PTW) help individuals who have CP?

The Mission of PTW is to provide individualized workouts and resources to people with SCI and other forms of paralysis to optimize their current quality of life and prepare them for future medical advancements. Our proposed program gives the paralysis community access to a wider range of wellness services that can enhance their ability to manage day-to-day activities.

Located in Oakland, New Jersey, PTW houses a 7,435 square foot gym with state-of-the art equipment. Certified trainers are available seven days a week to work with clients. PTW focuses on helping individuals build healthy lifestyles and improve their day-to-day lives. We use training methods to help clients regain strength, function, and independence.

The benefits of physical activity are even more important if you have a disability since people with disabilities have a tendency to live less active lifestyles. NCPAD encourages people with disabilities to participate in regular physical activity to promote healthy lifestyles and prevents secondary conditions. In addition to the benefits listed above, increasing evidence is showing that regular exercise for a neurological disorder can:

• Help prevent loss of muscle mass
• Help prevent spinal circuits from shutting down
• Increase energy