Abstract
Among the different forms of cerebral palsy, one of the most common is unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP), which presents not only with different levels of neuro-motor impairment on the affected side of the body but also with important sensory deficits in the upper extremity, visual abnormalities, attentional and executive limitations and possible epilepsy. Due to these multiple manifestations, this form is considered a complex syndromic pathology that needs the collaborative teamwork of various professionals.
This chapter highlights the importance of early diagnosis and treatment in USCP and of the precise classification of its various features, based on the time of onset of the brain injury. The child with hemiplegia is mostly very active and can reach good levels of functional independence and quality of life. For these reasons, motor rehabilitation is focused mainly on improving the quality of child’s functional repertoire regarding the use of the affected upper limb, bimanual activities and obtaining the best possible efficiency of walking. The most suitable therapeutic interventions are discussed considering that, in these children who are very capable of self-organizing, rehabilitators need to “get in early” and “act in advance” in order to have a positive influence on the natural evolution of this form of CP. By acting promptly and in attunement with the specific needs of the individual child, intervention will help achieve a better level of functional autonomy and social integration.
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Zerbino, L., Giannoni, P. (2022). The Child with Unilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy. In: Giannoni, P., Zerbino, L. (eds) Cerebral Palsy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85619-9_3
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