What are the Various types of Cerebral palsy ?

There are several different types of cerebral palsy:
Spastic cerebral palsy
This is the most common type of cerebral palsy. Spasticity means stiffness or tightness of muscles. The muscles
are stiff because the messages to the muscles are relayed incorrectly from the damaged parts of the brain.
When people without cerebral palsy perform a movement, groups of muscles contract whilst the opposite groups
of muscles relax or shorten in order to perform the movement. In children with spastic cerebral palsy, both groups


of muscles may contract together, making the movement difficult.
Athetoid cerebral palsy
Athetoid (or athetosis) is the word used for the uncontrolled movements that occur in this type of cerebral palsy. This
lack of control is often most noticeable when the child starts to move – for example, when the child attempts to grasp
a toy or a spoon. In addition, children with athetoid cerebral palsy often have very weak muscles or feel floppy when
carried.
Ataxic cerebral palsy
This is the least common type of cerebral palsy. Ataxic (or ataxia) is the word used for unsteady shaky movements
or tremor. Children with ataxia also have problems with balance.
Mixed types
Many children do not have just one type, but a mixture of several of these movement patterns.
Some of these concepts are difficult to understand. Please discuss them further with your therapist or doctor.