All types of CP are characterized by abnormal muscle tone (i.e. slouching over while sitting), reflexes, or motor development and coordination. There can be joint and bone deformities and contractures (permanently fixed, tight muscles and joints). The classical symptoms are spasticities, spasms, other involuntary movements (e.g. facial gestures), unsteady gait, problems with balance, and/or soft tissue findings consisting largely of decreased muscle mass. Scissor walking (where the knees come in and cross) and toe walking (which can contribute to a gait reminiscent of a marionette) are common among people with CP who are able to walk, but taken on the whole, CP symptomatology is very diverse. The effects of cerebral palsy fall on a continuum of motor dysfunction which may range from slight clumsiness at the mild end of the spectrum to impairments so severe that they render coordinated movement virtually impossible at the other end the spectrum.
Babies born with severe CP often have an irregular posture; their bodies may be either very floppy or very stiff. Birth defects, such as spinal curvature, a small jawbone, or a small head sometimes occur along with CP. Symptoms may appear or change as a child gets older. Some babies born with CP do not show obvious signs right away. Classically, CP becomes evident when the baby reaches the developmental stage at six and a half to 9 months and is starting to mobilise, where preferential use of limbs, asymmetry or gross motor developmental delay is seen.
Secondary conditions can include seizures, epilepsy, apraxia, dysarthria or other communication disorders, eating problems, sensory impairments, mental retardation, learning disabilities, and/or behavioral disorders.
The treatment methods of children cerebral palsy usually include:
1) The general methods used for rehabilitation such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, language training or orthotic device.
2)The methods used currently in developed countries, such as Bobath method, Vojta method, guided education, Ueda method or model training. Beside medications, Kinesitherapy is necessary for children patients. Kinesitherapy belongs to rehabilitation medicine, which use rehabilitative device, toys and play games especially for young children to correct abnormal attitude or muscle strength and establish normal motor pattern for developing of motor function. Bobath is one of the most popular techniques.
3)Traditional Chinese medicine such as acupuncture, injection at acupuncture point, needling, massage or Chinese drugs.
4) Surgery operation and medications used in Western medicine.
5)Water therapy and riding therapy. Since the brain cells cannot be regenerated after damage, partial, but not the most, of the brain functions can be recovered with rehabilitation exercises.
Treatment may include one or more of the following: physical therapy; occupational therapy; speech therapy; drugs to control seizures, alleviate pain, or relax muscle spasms (e.g. benzodiazepienes, baclofen and intrathecal phenol/baclofen); hyperbaric oxygen; the use of Botox to relax contracting muscles; surgery to correct anatomical abnormalities or release tight muscles; braces and other orthotic devices; rolling walkers; and communication aids such as computers with attached voice synthesizers. For instance, the use of a standing frame can help reduce spasticity and improve range of motion for people with CP who use wheelchairs. Nevertheless, there is only some benefit from therapy. Treatment is usually symptomatic and focuses on helping the person to develop as many motor skills as possible or to learn how to compensate for the lack of them. Non-speaking people with CP are often successful availing themselves of augmentative and alternative communication systems such as Blissymbols. Early Nutritional Support In one cohort study of 490 premature infants discharged from the NICU, the rate of growth during hospital stay was related to neurological function at 18 and 22 months of age. The study found a significant decrease in the incidence of cerebral palsy in the group of premature infants with the highest growth velocity.
This study suggests that adequate nutrition and growth play a protective role in the development of cerebral palsy. Physiotherapy (PT) programs are designed to encourage the patient to build a strength base for improved gait and volitional movement, together with stretching programs to limit contractures. Many experts believe that life-long physiotherapy is crucial to maintain muscle tone, bone structure, and prevent dislocation of the joints. Occupational therapy helps adults and children maximise their function, adapt to their limitations and live as independently as possible. Orthotic devices such as ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are often prescribed to minimise gait irregularities. AFOs have been found to improve several measures of ambulation, including reducing energy expenditure and increasing speed and stride length. Speech therapy helps control the muscles of the mouth and jaw, and helps improve communication. Just as CP can affect the way a person moves their arms and legs, it can also affect the way they move their mouth, face and head. This can make it hard for the person to breathe; talk clearly; and bite, chew and swallow food.
Speech therapy often starts before a child begins school and continues throughout the school years. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), in which pressurized oxygen is inhaled inside a hyperbaric chamber, has been used to treat CP under the theory that improving oxygen availability to damaged brain cells can reactivate some of them to function normally. Its use to treat CP is controversial. A 2007 systematic review concluded that the effect of HBOT on CP is not significantly different from that of pressurized room air, and that some children undergoing HBOT will experience adverse events such as seizures and the need for ear pressure equalization tubes; due to poor quality of data assessment the review also concluded that estimates of the prevalence of adverse events are uncertain.
Nutritional counseling may help when dietary needs are not met because of problems with eating certain foods. Both massage therapy and hatha yoga are designed to help relax tense muscles, strengthen muscles, and keep joints flexible. Hatha yoga breathing exercises are sometimes used to try to prevent lung infections. More research is needed to determine the health benefits of these therapies for people with CP.
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Many types and subtypes of CP, none of them have a known cure. Usually, medical intervention is limited to the treatment and prevention of complications arising from CP's effects. There is no cure for CP, but various forms of therapy can help a person with the disorder to function and live more effectively. In general, the earlier treatment begins the better chance children have of overcoming developmental disabilities or learning new ways to accomplish the tasks that challenge them. The earliest proven intervention occurs during the infant's recovery in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Neural Stem Cells (NSCs) are precursors of neural cells, which can renew and differentiate into neuron, astrocyte and oligodendroglia. NSCs can be used in clinical therapy. The neurological disorders can be cured and treated structurally and functionally by transplantation of NSCs. The neurons differentiated after the transplantation can replace the damaged neurons, promote the differentiation and functioning of neural stem cells within brain, recover the normal development of brain and improve the condition of cognitive disorder.
Stem cell transplantation has become the most effective method for treatment of brain paralysis. Younger children have stronger compensatory capacity and they have better chance to recover. Early intervening and treatment is the only way to prevent children with brain paralysis from disability.
We have recently developed a comprehensive program for Cerebral Palsy patients combining both nerve stem cell activation and stimulation treatment, and stem cells injections. This combined treatment has so far proven itself to be the most effective means to achieving a high level of recovery.
The treatment includes stem cell implantation, a "cocktail" of medications and brain nutrition materials given through IV, biofeedback treatment and comprehensive rehabilitation.
By employing all of the above methods we can maximally improve functions such as sensibility, mobility, language and intelligence.
The key to the success of this treatment method is the overall customized treatment regimen for each patient.
Autologous stem Cells Activation and Proliferation:
Using a non-invasive procedure, through daily IV of an individually customized cocktail of neurotrophic medications we activate the patient's own stem cells and as a result, turn these cells into nerve precursor cells. These cells have signalization and migrate to lesions along the nerve developing-chord.
Neural Stem Cells Injections:
Neural Stem cells extracted from a Fetus have the advantage of already being specialized naturally into neural cells and therefore there is no need to induce them into becoming neural cells by artificial means.
We offer a safe stem cell implantation procedure for Cerebral Palsy patients:
The procedure includes: Sub-arachnoid Surgery, Spinal Cord Fluid Stem Cell Injections, and an Injection through a lumbar puncture into the spinal cord fluid. We use this technique in the following cases:
1. The patient cannot cooperate properly for going through sterotaxios brain surgery.
2. The target in the brain is not clear enough or is too big to use the brain injection.
This procedure takes between 5 to 10 minutes. It is a simple and safe procedure that has almost no side effects or risks. This procedure takes place in the operating room and is performed by stem cell specialists.
Typically, 3 or 4 injections of 5 million cells each are given to the patient.
Rehabilitation:
Rehabilitation therapy is a very necessary part of the whole treatment regimen. In the past 20 years nerve system rehabilitation, in terms of motor control theory, has been greatly developed. The research results indicate that brain injury is an anatomical injury and it does not necessarily mean functional loss. Modern nerve development theory (NDT) focuses on what functions remain and what functions can be regained through treatment and/or training.
The adult stem cell mobilization technique we use is combined with signal induction in the rehabilitation training procedure which can significantly improve brain function.
In our Rehabilitation center we use different kinds of rehabilitation methods such as: Physical Therapy,
Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy.
The Procedures:
Autologous stem Cells activation and proliferation program
This program usually takes 5-6 weeks of stay in the Hospital.
1. Upon arrival at the hospital, you will be given standard tests to check your health and the details of your condition. A thorough evaluation of the neurological function and understanding of the lesion or pathological change in the brain tissues will be established by the medical team.
2. According to your condition a medical plan will be designed for Self Stem Cell Original Activation and Proliferation treatment. Then, to drive off the trigger factors of the stroke, we will treat the blood vessel wall, the blood ingredients and the blood flow, improving the brain micro environment to help the stem cells proliferate.
3. The self activation and proliferation treatment will than start. Based on the Neuro-endocrine immune network theory, we treat the patients by "waking up" the sleeping stem cells through oral medication. We use different medications during different processes (proliferation-inducement-differentiation), the medications are always adjusted and combined; therefore, we call it a "cocktail treatment."
4. Throughout the treatment period we will be following up and evaluating your neurological function and improvement.
5. After the first treatment cycle is complete, 2 to 5 months of rest are recommended before starting the second treatment.
Stem Cell Implantation through the Cerebral Spinal Fluid (Lumbar Puncture)
Most Cerebral Palsy patients have global brain damage. That is why we recommend doing the stem cells implantation through the spinal cord fluid. Through the CSF the stem cells will migrate to the damaged areas in the brain. This procedure is short and simple and done with local anesthesia.
In order to prevent even the minor risk of infection and maintain a strictly sterile environment, the procedure is done in the operating room by our doctors only.
Side effects:
The procedure can cause minor side effects for 2 to 3 days after the operation including fever, headaches, dizziness and fatigue. These side effects are expected and should not alarm or concern you. Many patients do not suffer any side effects at all.
Treatment period:
The recommended time period for the treatment is 5-6 weeks but there should be improvement after the first month. The patient can decide whether or not to continue with the second month's treatment at the end of the first month.