Cerebral Palsy Clinic
Our physical medicine & rehabilitation (PM&R) doctors, neurologists and other experts direct multispecialty care for cerebral palsy (CP), along with its related conditions and complications.
Types of Cerebral Palsy
Phoenix Children specialists offer diagnosis evaluation and treatment for all forms of cerebral palsy, including potential complications such as spasticity, contractures, movement disorders and seizures/epilepsy.
The most common forms of cerebral palsy include:
The most common type, usually includes stiff or tight muscles and uncontrollable movements of the face, arms and legs and one or both sides of the body:
- Spastic diplegia (legs)
- Spastic quadriplegia (both arms and both legs)
- Spastic hemiplegia (one arm and one leg on either the right or left side)
Difficulty controlling movement of hands, arms and legs, tight or loose muscle tone, and other effects such as trouble swallowing or talking
Coordination and balance problems, and symptoms such as tremors, poor fine-motor control and difficulty controlling hands and arms when reaching
Two or more types, such as spastic and dyskinetic
Cerebral Palsy Symptoms and Complications
Symptoms of cerebral palsy can be mild or severe depending on the amount of damage and areas of the brain affected. Symptoms and complications may become more evident as a child develops. For example, infants may have gross motor developmental difficulties including trouble sitting, crawling or walking. Abnormal movements often only emerge later. Other associated complications include cognitive/intellectual impairment, speech and language impairment, feeding, vision and hearing difficulties and seizures/epilepsy.
Common symptoms and signs of cerebral palsy include:
- Balance, coordination, movement and posture problems
- Difficulty standing and walking
- Involuntary shaking, twisting or jerking
- Muscle weakness or tightness, including stiff legs or clenched fists
- Poor muscle tone (too tight or too floppy)
- Abnormal reflexes
Secondary physical complications of CP may include:
- Contractures (tight, shortened muscles)
- Crouched gait
- Curved spine (scoliosis)
- Differing leg lengths
- Fatigue from walking or other movement
- Foot and ankle deformities
- Hip dislocation
- Pain
Secondary neurological effects can cause problems such as:
- Attention difficulties
- Bladder problems
- Breathing issues
- Constipation
- Drooling
- Learning disabilities
- Problems with swallowing or sucking
- Problems with hearing, vision or speech
- Seizures or epilepsy
Cerebral Palsy Associated Conditions
Most children with CP have one or more health issues referred to as cerebral palsy associated conditions. Specialists at Phoenix Children’s treat these and other CP-related conditions:
- Autism-spectrum disorders
- Cognitive and behavioral conditions (ADHD, depression, anxiety and others)
- Developmental delays
- Digestive issues
- Dysphagia (swallowing disorder)
- Feeding disorders
- Learning disorders
- Movement disorders
- Physical and mobility Issues
- Respiratory conditions (asthma, bronchitis, lung disease, pneumonia and others)
- Seizures
- Sleep disorders
- Vision problems
CP Diagnosis, Treatment and Care
The PM&R doctors at Phoenix Children’s serve as your medical home or “home base” for coordinating comprehensive cerebral palsy, care, education and support. Services through our comprehensive cerebral palsy team and associated specialists include:
- Injection Treatments
- Inpatient Rehabilitation
- Motion Analysis Lab (Gait Lab)
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Orthopedic CP Clinic (Subspecialty Care, By Referral Only)
- Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R)
- Psychology
- Seating and Mobility Clinic
- Surgical Tone Management Clinic
Learn more about cerebral palsy treatments, programs and services.