March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month! In honor of this month, I wanted to share ten facts about Cerebral Palsy!
1. There are five different types – spastic, ataxic, athetoid, hypotonic, and mixed.
2. Cerebral Palsy does not affect intellectual ability
3. Cerebral Palsy is not hereditary, and cannot be passed down generations
4. Cerebral Palsy is chronic, but can improve with treatment options such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, botox injections, and medications.
5. Cerebral Palsy is a result of abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain before, during or after birth
6. Some people with Cerebral Palsy, also deal with seizures
7. Cerebral Palsy can greatly range in severity, ranging from a slight limp to being totally wheelchair bound requiring around the clock care
8. Around 764,000 people in the U.S. have at least one symptom of cerebral palsy
9. People who have Cerebral Palsy can live a fulfilling life like anyone else
10. A speech impediment is common in those with cerebral palsy. The impediment may make them difficult to understand, or they may be unable to speak at all.
Fitness on Wheels 