Medicina Fluminensis, Vol. 62 No. 3, 2026.
Review article
https://doi.org/10.21860/medflum2026_349226
A New Conceptual Framework of Cerebral Palsy: Clinical and Social Context
Ana Katušić
; Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Edukacijsko-rehabilitacijski fakultet, Odsjek za motoričke poremećaje i kronične bolesti, Zagreb, Hrvatska
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* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Cerebral palsy has long been a central topic in paediatric neurology and rehabilitation, yet its definition has undergone continuous revision. From the earliest descriptions to the international consensus, the concept has evolved in line with scientific advances and societal changes. Recent insights into genetic and inflammatory mechanisms, recognition of clinical heterogeneity, and the increasing involvement of people with cerebral palsy have prompted the need for a revised description. This article presents a new conceptual framework for cerebral palsy, proposed in 2025, which describes cerebral palsy as a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition originating in early development. It is characterized by disorders of movement and posture that result in activity limitations, attributed to malformations or non-progressive, non-degenerative injuries in the fetal or infant brain. The framework emphasizes the individuality of each phenotype and integrates both motor and non-motor features into a unified clinical construct, consistent with the biopsychosocial model and the International Classification of Functioning.
The proposed framework introduces a new perspective on cerebral palsy by highlighting its lifelong nature, incorporating non-motor impairments, and linking the medical diagnosis with lived experiences of participation in society. This shifts the concept of cerebral palsy beyond a purely biomedical construct toward a more comprehensive understanding, with direct implications for diagnosis, rehabilitation, and the development of social policies. Its further implementation will require interdisciplinary discussion, empirical validation, and adaptation of health and social care systems.
Keywords
biopsychosocial model; cerebral palsy; neurodevelopmental disorders; social participation; terminology as topic
Hrčak ID:
349226
URI
Publication date:
1.9.2026.
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