In addition to National CP Awareness Month, March 25 is also National Cerebral Palsy Day. Cerebral palsy (CP) is a disorder of movement that affects approximately 800,000 people in the United States. There are a multitude of classifications for cerebral palsy, ranging in symptoms and severity.

Board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. David Siambanes, is an expert in cerebral palsy care and sees many children daily who deal with the disease. Cerebral palsy is typically diagnosed early in childhood and if treated effectively can drastically improve the quality of life for those who suffer from the disease.

Ultimately treatment options change during the different stages of life and it is always best for parents and caregivers to work with their child’s physician to consider every option after a diagnosis has been made.

For children with cerebral palsy who are still able to walk, mobility can often be further complicated by growth and weight gain during early adolescence. If treated early, certain procedures can improve walking for those affected by cerebral palsy and keep them walking later in life.

A major misconception is often that kids confined to a wheelchair due of the disease can’t benefit from surgery, however, preventative procedures can stop health from further degrading.

“Early childhood treatment of cerebral palsy is vital to achieve the best possible quality of life for patients,” said Siambanes, Director of the gait analysis center at St. Joseph’s Hospital and member of the spasticity clinic. “Often those suffering with cerebral palsy are left unattended to because it is hard to see ways to improve.”

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