Patient's question:
A child in a friend's family has been diagnosed with a disease. They constantly drool and frequently laugh, as if there's something wrong with their nervous system. The hospital said it's cerebral palsy. Because of this disease, the friend is very troubled and hopes the child's condition can be somewhat alleviated.What kind of help is needed: What are the treatment methods for cerebral palsy in young children?
Doctor's answer:
Cerebral palsy typically refers to central motor disorders caused by non-progressive brain damage or developmental abnormalities of the brain from before birth to one month after birth due to various reasons. Therapists should develop home training programs for children with cerebral palsy and their parents. The program should focus on improving function and preventing secondary impairments. However, for children with particularly severe conditions, facilitation care and reducing family stress should be the primary goals. It usually includes: understanding the child's condition and daily routines; targeted muscle strength and joint mobility training; stretching therapy for severely painful muscles; functional active movement reinforcement training; and the use of assistive devices such as orthotics, chairs, standing frames, and wheelchairs, etc.