WEB WATCH
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- By Shirley Butler |
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The Facts about Cerebral Palsy
It is
estimated that some 500,000 children and adults in the United States manifest
one or more of the symptoms of Cerebral
Palsy (CP). CP is a term used to describe a group of chronic symptoms
affecting body movement and muscle coordination. It is caused by damage to
areas of the brain, occurring during fetal development, before, during or
shortly following birth, or during infancy. One important cause of this
damage is an insufficient amount of oxygen reaching the fetal or newborn
brain. Premature separation of the placenta from the wall of the uterus,
awkward birth position of the baby, labor that is too long or too abrupt, or
interference with circulation in the umbilical cord can interrupt oxygen
supply. Other risk factors for CP are: premature birth, low birth weight, RI or A-B-O
blood type incompatibility between mother and infant, infection of the mother
with German measles or other virus diseases in early pregnancy, and
microorganisms that attack the infant's central nervous system. Most causes
of CP are
related to the developmental and childbearing processes and, since the CP is not inherited,
it is often called congenital CP. A less
common type is Acquired Cerebral Palsy, usually occurring before two years of
age. Head injury is the most frequent cause, usually the result of motor
vehicle accidents, falls, or child abuse; and another cause is brain
infection. There
are three main types: (1)
spastic - stiff and difficult movement; There
may be a mixture of these types for any individual. Other types do occur,
although infrequently. CP itself is not progressive; however, secondary symptoms
can develop which may get better over time, get worse, or remain the same. CP is not communicable
- it is not a disease and should never be referred to as such. Although
CP is not
"curable" in the accepted sense, training and therapy can help
improve function. In line
with training and therapy, there is an organization called the United States
Cerebral Palsy Athletes' Association (USCPAA). USCPAA works with individuals
with CP
and offers competition and technical support for athletes/coaches year-round
in the sports of boccia, bowling, cross country, cycling, equestrian, power
lifting, soccer, swimming, track and field, and indoor wheelchair soccer.
Already, in over 40 states across this country, USCPAA is a resource that the
athlete can turn to for help in coordinating his or her training. USCPAA
strives to enable its athletes to compete at their peak on local, regional,
national, and international levels. Recognition and development of the
athlete's ability are the primary goals. They have already sponsored many
athletes and teams in their pursuit of excellence. USCPAA is a Disabled
Sports Organization (DSO) member of the United States Olympic Committee
(USOC), and of the Cerebral Palsy International Sports/Recreation Association
(CP/ISRA). It is
USCPAA's goal to raise $1,000,000 each year to provide quality sports
training, physical fitness, and competitive opportunities for the physically
challenged athlete, including the cost of travel, uniforms, operational
expenses, and specialized sports equipment. We hope that these athletes and
their spirit will educate the public, thus reducing the gap between the
physically challenged, and those who are not! For
those with access to the Internet, the National Cerebral Palsy Association
has a website at: http://www.ncpa.org., and USCPAA's site
is at: http://www.uscpaa.org. There is also a
news group that is a support system for people with CP and their families.
The address is alt.support.cerebral-palsy. If your browser does not support
newsgroups, you can subscribe to this newsgroup through Dejanews, at http://www.dejanews.com. |
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