Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy, or CP, is an overall name given to describe a variety of specific symptoms. The words “cerebral palsy” are used to describe a medical condition that affects control of the muscles. “Cerebral” means anything in the head or brain, and “palsy” refers to anything wrong with control of the muscles or joints in the body. When we say that individuals have cerebral palsy, it means that because of injuries to their brains (that's the cerebral part), they are not able to use some of the muscles in their bodies in the normal way (that's the palsy part). People who have cerebral palsy may not be able to walk, talk, eat, or play in the same way as others.

It is important to know that cerebral palsy is not an illness or a disease. You can't catch it from someone else, and it doesn't get worse over time. However, cerebral palsy is not something you “grow out of.” Children who have cerebral palsy will have it all their lives.