Introduction

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of neurological disorders that affect movement, coordination, and muscle tone. It is caused by damage to the developing brain, typically before or during birth, but it can also occur in early childhood. Cerebral palsy is non-progressive but the symptoms and their severity can vary widely from person to person. The management of cerebral palsy requires a multidisciplinary approach, which may include medical interventions, therapies (such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy), assistive devices, and educational support. The goal of management is to improve mobility, independence, communication, and overall quality of life for individuals with cerebral palsy. This programme will describe the aetiology of cerebral palsy, the various assessment tools, and treatment techniques for rehabilitation clinicians. In addition, special topics related to cerebral palsy will be explored.

Aims

This programme of courses aims to detail the intricacies of cerebral palsy and provide an overview of the assessment and management options for rehabilitation professionals.

Outline

This course is made up of videos, reading, forum posts and a final quiz. The course content is split into the following sections:

1. Cerebral Palsy Aetiology and Pathology
2. Cerebral Palsy General Assessment and Interventions
3. Motor Development Principles
4. Paediatric Musculoskeletal Development
5. Low Functioning Cerebral Palsy Physiotherapy Assessment and Intervention
6. High Functioning Cerebral Palsy Physiotherapy Assessment and Intervention
7. Using the ICF with Cerebral Palsy
8. Cerebral Visual Impairment and Cerebral Palsy
9. Mental Health Considerations with Cerebral Palsy
10. Communication in Early Intervention
11. Considerations for Feeding in Cerebral Palsy
12. An Introduction to Augmentative and Alternative Communication
13. Adaptive Seating
14. Assistive Technology – Standers
15. Sensory Integration

Target audience

This course is aimed at rehabilitation professionals, students and assistants including but not limited to Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Rehabilitation Doctors, Rehabilitation Nurses, Prosthetists, Orthotists, Psychologists, Audiologists, Dietetics, Social Workers. Community Health Workers, Nurses or Medical Doctors interested in this subject are also invited to participate.