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Updated: Jul 28, 2026

Event-related Potentials During Target-response Tasks to Study Cognitive Processes of Upper Limb Use in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy
08:26

Event-related Potentials During Target-response Tasks to Study Cognitive Processes of Upper Limb Use in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy

Published on: January 11, 2016

Cerebral palsy

L Andrew Koman1, Beth Paterson Smith, Jeffrey S Shilt

  • 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1070, USA. lakoman@wfubmc.edu

Lancet (London, England)
|May 18, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Cerebral palsy management focuses on musculoskeletal issues, utilizing physiotherapy, orthotics, and surgery. While alternative therapies are used, traditional medical approaches remain the primary treatment for this common childhood disability.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatrics
  • Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

  • Cerebral palsy is a common childhood disability causing motor impairment.
  • It stems from diverse insults to the developing nervous system, leading to varied clinical presentations.
  • Management is multifaceted, including therapy, orthotics, and surgical interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the musculoskeletal issues in cerebral palsy.
  • To discuss current and evolving management strategies for spasticity and motor impairment.
  • To highlight the role of traditional medical techniques in cerebral palsy care.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on musculoskeletal aspects of cerebral palsy.
  • Analysis of management options including pharmacological, surgical, and therapeutic interventions.
  • Discussion of historical trends and current practices in cerebral palsy treatment.

Main Results:

  • Spasticity management has evolved with pharmacological and surgical options since 1980.
  • Traditional medical techniques like physiotherapy and orthopaedic surgery are the mainstay of treatment.
  • Complementary and alternative therapies are increasingly adopted but their prevalence and cost are unknown.

Conclusions:

  • Musculoskeletal issues are central to cerebral palsy management.
  • A combination of traditional and evolving therapies offers comprehensive care.
  • Further research is needed on the impact and cost of alternative therapies.

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