Cerebral Palsy Awareness: Nutrition Issues with Cerebral Palsy

March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month.

What is Cerebral Palsy?

CP is a group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture.

Cerebral = having to do with the brain

Palsy = weakness/problems with using the muscles

How common is it?

• Cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability in childhood.
• Up to 4 out of every 1,000 children in the U.S. have it.

What causes Cerebral Palsy?

• Abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain due to:
• Low birth weight and premature birth
• Lack of blood and oxygen to the brain during birth
• Infection during pregnancy

What medical issues are associated with Cerebral Palsy?

• Incontinence issues (due to impaired sensation, poor muscle control, leakage)
• Urological issues (one third of CP patients require urological evaluation)
• Nutrition issues (see below):

Nutrition and Cerebral Palsy:

References:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2. MyChild at CerebralPalsy.org
3. Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Nutrition Services for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities And Special Health Care Needs. J Acad Nutr Diet.

Want to know more about nutrition and development disabilities in children and how to manage them? Don’t miss this free webinar:

Nutrition Management for Children with Developmental Disabilities Webinar Video

Read more about Cerebral Palsy:

Five Ways to Build Social Skills in Children with Cerebral Palsy

http://www.shieldhealthcare.com/community/grow/2016/04/08/cerebral-palsy-unconditional-love/

http://www.shieldhealthcare.com/community/grow/2016/04/07/transitioning-into-adulthood-with-cerebral-palsy/