Neuro & Physical
Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is a condition affecting movement and muscle coordination, caused by damage to the developing brain, often during pregnancy or childbirth. Individuals with cerebral palsy may experience challenges with motor skills, coordination and muscle control that affect movement and daily activities, and a coordinated, multi-disciplinary approach helps build independence.
What the evidence says
CDC tracked
cerebral palsy is one of the most common motor disability conditions of childhood, tracked by the CDC
- Difficulty with motor skills, coordination or muscle control
- Muscle tone that is unusually stiff or unusually floppy
- Delayed motor milestones such as sitting, crawling or walking
- Difficulty performing daily activities that involve movement
- Associated challenges such as muscle spasms or pain
This is a guide, not a diagnosis. Only a qualified professional can assess.
- Physiotherapy using customised exercise programmes to improve strength, coordination and mobility
- Occupational therapy to build independence in daily tasks
- Speech therapy where communication or swallowing is affected
- Coordination with doctors where medication is used for muscle spasms or pain
- Family-centred, tailored management plans that adapt as the child grows
- Delayed motor milestones compared to peers
- Unusual posture or movement patterns noticed by parents or paediatricians
- Difficulty with coordinated tasks such as reaching, sitting or walking
Not sure yet?
Check the signs in someone you love: Milestones: what I'm noticing in my child
Thinking about your child's movement and everyday skills, how often do you notice each of these? Milestones vary widely, so this is a prompt for conversation, not a verdict. Scored on your device only, nothing is stored, and it is not a diagnosis.
The care pathway
What each professional actually does here
Care for this concern is usually shared. Here is how each discipline contributes, so nothing feels like a black box.
Physiotherapists design customised exercise programmes that build strength, coordination and mobility, helping to enhance independence and quality of life for children with cerebral palsy.
Explore this serviceOccupational therapists focus on building independence in daily tasks, supporting functional skills that matter for everyday life at home and school.
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The disciplines involved
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Paediatric Physiotherapy
Paediatric Physiotherapy
Movement-focused therapy for infants and children with developmental, postural or motor concerns.
Learn moreOccupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Supporting children and adults to build the everyday skills that make participation, learning and independence possible.
Learn moreQuestions
Cerebral palsy: questions people ask us
Short, honest answers about who helps, what to expect and how care is coordinated.
It results from damage to the developing brain, often occurring during pregnancy or childbirth, that affects movement and muscle coordination.
A comprehensive approach usually includes physiotherapy for motor skills, occupational therapy for daily independence, and speech therapy where communication or swallowing is affected. Medication may be used for symptoms like muscle spasms when advised by a doctor.
Physiotherapists use customised exercise programmes to improve mobility, muscle strength and coordination, fostering greater independence over time.
No, presentation varies widely between individuals, which is why management plans are tailored to each child's specific needs and reviewed as they grow.
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Tell us what's happening, we'll suggest where to start
You don't have to choose the right professional yourself- we match you after a first conversation.
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