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Cerebral palsy (CP)
Cerebral palsy affects around 1 in every 400 children in the UK.At the London Orthotic Consultancy, we specialise in the orthotic treatment of children with cerebral palsy to help manage symptoms, improve mobility, increase stability, and support long-term musculoskeletal health.
What is cerebral palsy?
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of neurological disorders that affect movement, muscle tone, and posture. It’s caused by damage to the brain that happens before, during or shortly after birth.
While cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition that varies from person to person, physical therapy and bespoke orthotics can help people with cerebral palsy move more easily and independently.
Symptoms of cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term that includes a whole range of symptoms and severities and is unique to each person.
For some people, cerebral palsy will affect them physically, with muscle tightness and involuntary movement making muscle movements more difficult. Others may have a learning disability or experience seizures, epilepsy or difficulties with speech and language.
Not all symptoms are visible at birth and may become more obvious as a baby develops.
The following terms describe the area of the body affected:
- hemiplegic affects one side of the body (arm and leg on the same side). The other side may function normally.
- diplegic mostly affects the legs, causing difficulty with walking and coordination, while arm function is often better.
- quadriplegic affects all four limbs (both arms and legs) as well as the trunk. It is often the most severe form and symptoms can include learning difficulties and seizures.
Different types of cerebral palsy
Spastic cerebral palsy
This is the most common form of cerebral palsy, when the muscles are stiff and tight which leads to uncontrolled movements.
Dyskinetic cerebral palsy
Characterised by involuntary movements, such as twisting, writhing, or sudden jerking. This can affect the whole body, including the face and tongue, leading to difficulty speaking and swallowing.
Ataxic cerebral palsy
Affects balance and coordination. People with ataxic cerebral palsy have shaky or unsteady movements, tremors, difficulty with precise tasks like writing, and trouble with walking or depth perception.
Advanced orthotic treatment for children with cerebral palsy
At LOC, we specialise in designing clinically-led, bespoke orthotics that make a meaningful difference to patients with cerebral palsy. Our orthotics don’t just offer support, they’re precision tools used to improve mobility, stability and gait, based on in-depth assessment and advanced biomechanical analysis.
Every orthosis we create is the result of careful planning, goal-setting and fine-tuning, tailored to support each child’s development and unique functional needs. Giving children the best possible foundation for movement, independence and participation.
The Elaine Owen OSKAR clinic
The Optimal Segmental Kinematics and Alignment Approach to Rehabilitation (OSKAR) is an orthotic method of treating children with lower limb neurological conditions like cerebral palsy and spina bifida.
How we use gait lab technology to fine-tune our orthotics
Video vector gait lab analysis helps us assess walking patterns before and after any lower-limb orthotic fitting.
The role of orthotics after SDR surgery in children
Orthotics play an important role in helping children transition to improved mobility and function after SDR surgery. By providing stability, promoting alignment and enhancing movement.