Cerebral Palsy

Over 500,000 Americans have cerebral palsy, a term that is used to describe a multitude of chronic disorders which effects body movement.  The NINDS – NIH, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke at the National Institute of Health, states that cerebral palsy is an umbrella-like term used to describe a group of chronic disorders, where faulty development or damage to the motor area in the brain disrupts the brains ability to adequately control movement and posture.  These disorders are broken down into four categories: spastic, athetoid, ataxic and mixed forms.  Other medical disorders associated with CP are seizures or epilepsy, mental impairment, vision and hearing problems, growth problems, sensation and perception problems.   Studies using Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy have shown reduction in spasticity as well as improvements in vision, hearing and speech.  These improvements vary from patient to patient.