The term ‘cerebral palsy’ taken literally, is actually a complete misnomer. The term ‘cerebral’ means ‘of the brain,’ whereas the term ‘palsy’ means complete or partial paralysis. Now, is it possible to paralyse a brain? Even a brain in a state of coma is far from paralysed. There are approximately one hundred billion cells in the human brain, each with up to ten thousand connections, communicating almost constantly in various patterns of activity known as neural networks. It is therefore impossible for a brain to be in a state of paralysis. Let us now look at what your doctor actually meant when he said your child has cerebral palsy.

Cerebral palsy has many varied definitions, which have probably confused parents with their ambiguity, lack of clarity and complexity. I know when I first came across the term as a parent; I was confused by the varying definitions. The medical world seems particularly good at generating technical explanations of this sort; - explanations, which precisely because of the embedded technical jargon, parents find inaccessible and worrisome. Let’s examine some of the explanations, all from professionals, which have been passed to us by parents. You will note in the following definitions that the word ‘brain’ is mentioned only once and that is in the form of brain ‘abnormality: -’

Cerebral palsy is a term used to describe any disorder of movement and posture that results from a non - progressive abnormality of the immature brain. A term for a non - progressive impairment of muscular function and weakness of the limbs. A loss or deficiency of motor control with involuntary spasms. A congenital disease, usually non-progressive and dating from infancy or early childhood, characterized by a major disorder of motor function. A condition with various combinations of impaired muscle tone and strength, coordination, and intelligence.

Consider these five definitions: - what strikes you about them? - They are all descriptions of the symptoms of cerebral palsy. Not once is the true cause of cerebral palsy even mentioned. (one even refers to CP as a disease; - Wow!)

What is the cause of cerebral palsy?

The brain is very delicate. Muscles can briefly utilise energy in the absence of oxygen, - the brain cannot. The brain is totally dependent upon its oxygen supply, which it obtains from the blood supply to the brain. A disruption in the blood supply to the brain of just 1 second, will see all the available oxygen in the environment consumed. A 6 second disruption produces unconsciousness. Within minutes, permanent damage is taking place. (Carlson, 2007).

The cause of cerebral palsy therefore needs no complicated definition. It is simple and easy to understand. The cause of cerebral palsy is brain–injury. It is that simple! The brain–injury may have occurred in one of many ways; - oxygen starvation at birth, alcohol abuse or abuse of other drugs, infection, jaundice, malnutrition, or one of many other causes. The important and simple thing to remember is that cerebral palsy is caused by brain–injury; in fact, cerebral palsy is an expression of brain–injury.

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