Cerebral palsy: aspects of pathophysiology and principles of therapy

Abstract

The results from spastic gait disorder measurements are referred to a common concept of the knowledge about cerebral palsy. The maturation of the normal gait pattern is blocked at the stage of early development. Until now only a small amount of data existed about the theoretical and practical function of physiotherapy due to difficulties of research and documentation. In children with cerebral palsy (CP), in addition, the perinatal lesion, although not progressive, changes the clinical appearance according to development, thus complicating the problems. New techniques now available (MRI, PET, TMS) will help to unravel possible rearrangements on cortical, spinal, and, perhaps, muscular levels. Only better knowledge about the mechanisms underlying the motor disability will be the foundation for rationally based effective therapies.