What Should I Know About Cerebral Palsy Gait?

Cerebral palsy gait problems are typically the result of neurological damages to the brain that control the muscles and other parts of the body related to movement.

The ability to move is a very complex process that involves the cooperation of sensory, motor and central nervous systems. There are three main functions that work together in the gait cycle to allow a person to walk properly. The most demanding of these is weight acceptance and this is when the weight of the body is transferred from one limb to another during movement. Next, comes single limb support which involves one limb supporting the weight of the body temporarily while it is in motion.

The third task involved with gait is limb advancement and this requires the foot to clear the floor while being in perfect unison of all other body movements. Those with cerebral palsy gait issues may have problems with any or all of these.

Children typically are presented with their cerebral palsy gait issues at about the same time a child begins to walk. Most children with cerebral palsy will walk and master other tasks at a later time than average. Cerebral palsy children might not even begin to start walking until the age of four, if they ever walk at all.