Cerebral Palsy Treatment Options

Cerebral palsy cannot be cured — only managed. Thankfully, a wide array of treatment options allows patients to deal with their symptoms, improve their mobility, and enhance their general quality of life. Detailed below are a few of the most promising CP treatments:

Physical Therapy

A variety of exercises can enhance motor function and mobility for children and adults with CP. Physical therapy typically begins shortly after diagnosis, with parents of infants and young children instructed to exercise their children’s limbs to keep them as strong and flexible as possible.

Kinesio Taping and Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation

An increasingly popular option for children with CP who struggle with poor posture, Kinesio taping is believed to improve tissue alignment, offer positional stimuli, and promote circulation. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is also quite promising, with proponents claiming that it promotes greater muscle strength and range of motion. In a notable study published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, both interventions improved posture and sitting ability in participants with CP.

Drug Therapy

Drug-based intervention can reduce a variety of CP symptoms while also addressing physical and mental complications. Common medications used to address the symptoms of cerebral palsy include:

• Dantrolene (Dantrium)
• Diazepam (Valium)
• Baclofen (Gablofen)
• Lamotigrine (Lamictal)
• Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)
• Glycopyrrolate (Robinul)

Side effects for the medications listed above can be severe, and many physicians believe that children with CP should not be prescribed antispasmodic medications, as resulting drowsiness may interfere with their academic performance and general quality of life.

Surgical Treatments

Certain mobility problems associated with CP can be eased or eliminated altogether via surgery. Common surgical approaches include orthopedic surgery (to increase range of motion) and dorsal rhizotomy (the cutting of select nerves for children with severe CP-induced muscle stiffness). Typically, surgery is reserved for legs, as surgical interventions targeting arms carry greater risk. Many physicians object to any use of surgery before other treatment options have been pursued.

Stem Cell Therapy

Still in its early stages, stem cell therapy is not yet approved as a CP treatment. Preliminary research, however, indicates that it could play a huge role in future symptom management. A 2016 study published in the International Journal of Stem Cells suggests that bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells (BMMCs) may lead to improvements in motor function when administered via injection directly into the spinal cord. Study participants demonstrated reduced spasticity and greater bowel control. Further research is needed to determine the most effective injection schedule and how growth factors could enhance injection-based treatments.

The future is bright for CP patients and their families. A range of current therapies alleviates pain and promotes mobility — and upcoming treatments may do so even more effectively.