Medicina Fluminensis, Vol. 54 No. 1, 2018.
Review article
https://doi.org/10.21860/medflum2018_192883
Habilitation of children with cerebral palsy
Darko Kraguljac
; Zavod za fizikalnu i rehabilitacijsku medicinu, KBC Rijeka, Rijeka, Hrvatska
Miriam Brenčić
; Zavod za fizikalnu i rehabilitacijsku medicinu, KBC Rijeka, Rijeka, Hrvatska
Tamara Zibar
; 2Medicinski fakultet Sveučilišta u Rijeci, Rijeka, Hrvatska
Tea Schnurrer Luke-Vrbanić
; Zavod za fizikalnu i rehabilitacijsku medicinu, KBC Rijeka, Rijeka, Hrvatska
Abstract
Cerebral palsy is a clinical entity characterized by disorder of movement and posture caused by a non-progressive injury to the immature brain. There are many etiological factors that may cause brain injury that result in cerebral palsy. The consequences of brain injury may have an effect on motor function, musculoskeletal and cognitive development as well as on a range of other associated health issues. Also, when it comes to cerebral palsy, it should always be noted that it is not merely about a medical problem, but also the psychological and social components have to be taken into account. Diagnosis is made in children with slow motor development and is comfimed with findings from magnetic resonance imaging. In children with cerebral palsy, the treatment is aimed at achieving two main goals: reduce complications of cerebral palsy and improve the ability to acquire new skills. Additional goals are represented by parent education, reduction of body deformations and mobility improvement. Cerebral palsy has a major impact on the child, the whole family and their life, thus an interdisciplinary approach is required. It is important to begin the therapy as early as possible in order to facilitatee the patient's development and contribute to a better treatment outcome in terms of quality of life. Cerebral palsy treatment should not be focused only on improvement of motor skills; attention should be pointed at every kind of impairment from which the child suffers. In this view, a wide range of therapeutic approaches is available and a combination of therapeutic procedures is usually employed. This multimodal approach allows flexibility and treatment individualization toward achievement of specific goals set for the child and family.
Keywords
cerebral palsy; habilitation; physical therapy
Hrčak ID:
192883
URI
Publication date:
1.3.2018.
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