What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a condition that affects movement, posture and coordination. It is caused by damage to the brain before, during, or after birth. No two people are affected in the same way. For some people the effects of cerebral palsy will be very mild whilst for others they can be severe or profound, with many variations in between.

Our booklet What is Cerebral Palsy? will help you understand the physical and medical aspects of cerebral palsy.

For further information on what cerebral palsy is, we have compiled a range of factsheets on different therapies and other aspects of living with cerebral palsy. A lot more information on cerebral palsy and other disability issues is available to borrow from our Library

Cerebral Palsy Factsheets

Ageing and Cerebral Palsy
1 September 2004
Factsheet looking at some of the possible effects of ageing on people with cerebral palsy.
Download word document  | Download PDF document

An Introduction to Therapy
12 April 2008
Factsheet looking at the main forms of therapy used to treat people with cerebral palsy.
An Introduction to Therapy An Introduction to Therapy

Bobath Therapy 
18 June 2007 
Bobath treatment aims to improve posture and movement through correct specialised ways of handling. Used for children with cerebral palsy and other conditions.
Download word document  | Download PDF document 

Challenging Behaviour and Cerebral Palsy
06 March 2008
Challenging behaviour is behaviour which carers may find difficult to manage. This factsheet looks at some of the possible reasons for challenging behaviour and how it can be managed.
Challenging behaviour and cerebral palsy Challenging behaviour and cerebral palsy

Conductive Education
17 July 2008
Conductive education is a learning approach which aims to educate and train in a holistic way. This factsheet explains a bit about it and where it is available in Scotland.
Conductive Education 2008 Conductive Education

Dolphin Therapy 
25 June 2007 
This factsheet looks at Dolphin therapy provided in centres outside the UK that specialise in therapy for people with physical and learning disabilities.
Download word document  Download PDF document

Drooling and Cerebral Palsy
1 April 2008 
Drooling occurs in about one third of people with cerebral palsy. This factsheet explains why it happens and how to deal with it.
Drooling and Cerebral Palsy 2008 Drooling and Cerebral Palsy 2008

Lycra Dynamic Splinting
29 August 2006
Download word document | Download PDF document

This factsheet looks at some of the medical and surgical treatments to treat spasticity, including intrathecal baclofen therapy, selective dorsal rhizotomy, and botulinum toxin A therapy.
Medical and Surgical Treatments to Treat Spasticity| Medical and Surgical Treatments to Treat Spasticity

January 2008

This factsheet looks at the causes of sleep problems and gives some suggestions for possible solutions.
Sleep Problems in Children| Sleep Problems in Children

This factsheet provides some research and statistics about cerebral palsy.
Cerebral Palsy Research 2008 | Cerebral Palsy Research 2008