PHYSICAL

IMPAIRMENTS
CEREBERAL PALSY

The term cerebral refers to the

brain; palsy refers to the loss or impairment of
motor function.
A group of neurological disorders that appear in
infancy or early childhood and permanently
affect body movement and muscle coordination is
caused by damage to or abnormalities inside the
developing brain that disrupt the brain’s ability to
control movement and maintain posture and
balance.
Symptoms:
lack of muscle coordination when performing voluntary movements
(ataxia);
stiff or tight muscles and exaggerated reflexes (spasticity);
weakness in one or more arm or leg;
walking on the toes, a crouched gait, or a “scissored” gait;
variations in muscle tone, either too stiff or too floppy;
excessive drooling or difficulties swallowing or speaking;
shaking (tremor) or random involuntary movements;
delays in reaching motor skill milestones; and
difficulty with precise movements such as writing or buttoning a shirt.
DIAGNOSIS
Cranial ultrasound
Computed tomography (CT)
MRI ( Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Main causes include genetic abnormalities, congenital brain

malformations, maternal infections or fevers, or fetal injury
In many cases, the cause is unknown
SPINA BIFIDA
Spina bifida is a birth defect that occurs when the spine and spinal
cord don't form properly. It's a type of neural tube defect. The neural
tube is the structure in a developing embryo that eventually becomes
the baby's brain, spinal cord and the tissues that enclose them.
Part of the neural tube doesn't develop or close properly, leading
to defects in the spinal cord and bones of the spine (vertebrae).

Real cause is unknown

Lack of folic acid before and during pregnancy
TYPES
 Spina bifida occulta
"Occulta" means hidden. It's the mildest and most common type. Spina
bifida occulta results in a small separation or gap in one or more of the
bones of the spine (vertebrae). Many people who have spina bifida occulta
don't even know it, unless the condition is discovered during an imaging
test done for unrelated reasons.
 Myelomeningocele
Also known as open spina bifida, myelomeningocele is the most severe
type. The spinal canal is open along several vertebrae in the lower or
middle back. The membranes and spinal nerves push through this opening
at birth, forming a sac on the baby's back, typically exposing tissues and
nerves. This makes the baby prone to life-threatening infections and may
also cause paralysis and bladder and bowel dysfunction.
SYMPTOMS
Neurological impairment is common, including:
Muscle weakness of the legs, sometimes involving paralysis
Bowel and bladder problems
Seizures, especially if the child requires a shunt
Orthopedic problems — such as deformed feet, uneven hips and a
curved spine (scoliosis)
SPINAL CORD INJURY
Is damage to any part of spinal cord or nerves at the end of spinal
canal-often causes permanent changes in sensation, strength, and
other bodily functions
TYPES
Complete. If all feeling (sensory) and all ability to control
movement (motor function) are lost below the spinal cord injury,
your injury is called complete.
Incomplete. If you have some motor or sensory function below the
affected area, your injury is called incomplete. There are varying
degrees of incomplete injury.
Paralysis from a spinal cord injury may be referred to as:
Tetraplegia. Also known as quadriplegia, this means that your
arms, hands, trunk, legs and pelvic organs are all affected by your
spinal cord injury.
Paraplegia. This paralysis affects all or part of the trunk, legs and
pelvic organs.
 Problems with bladder and bowel function

Frequent infections; the likelihood of this increases if you are on a feeding or

breathing tube

Chronic pain, Headaches

Changes in mood or personality

Nerve pain, Chronic muscle pain

Pneumonia

Loss of movement

Loss or altered sensation, including the ability to feel heat, cold and touch

Exaggerated reflex activities or spasms

Changes in sexual function, sexual sensitivity and fertility

Pain or an intense stinging sensation caused by damage to the nerve fibers in your
spinal cord

Difficulty breathing, coughing or clearing secretions from your lungs

CAUSES
DIAGNOSIS AND
TREATMENT
Clinical evaluation: Your doctor will make a detailed list of all of
your symptoms, and may conduct blood tests, ask you to move your
limbs, follow movement in your eyes, and conduct other tests to
narrow down your symptoms.
Imaging tests: MRI imaging or other forms of radiological imaging
to view your spinal column, spinal cord, and brain.
Care to address, but not treat, your immediate symptoms. For
instance, a ventilator can help you breathe and a feeding tube can
help you eat if you are unable to do so.
Palliative care to help you be more comfortable. If you struggle with
insomnia or chronic pain, your doctor might prescribe medication to
help.
Lifestyle changes, such as a healthier diet or giving up smoking.
Physical therapy to help retrain your brain and body; many spinal
cord injury survivors are able to regain significant mobility with
physical therapy.
Family and individual counseling to help you cope with the pain and
stress of life with a spinal cord injury.
Surgery as needed to correct injury-related health problems.
MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY (MD)

Muscular dystrophy is a group of inherited diseases that damage and

weaken your muscles over time. This damage and weakness is due to the
lack of a protein called dystrophin, which is necessary for normal muscle
function. The absence of this protein can cause problems with walking,
swallowing, and muscle coordination.

The signs and symptoms consistent with muscular dystrophy are:

Progressive muscular wasting
Poor balance Scoliosis (curvature of the spine and the back)
Progressive inability to walk
Limited range of movement
DIAGNOSIS

muscle biopsy
increased creatine phosphokinase
electromyography
genetic testing.
A physical examination
chest X-ray
echocardiogram
CT scan
magnetic resonance image scan,
SEIZURE DISORDERS
A seizure is a sudden, uncontrolled electrical
disturbance in the brain. It can cause
changes in your behavior, movements or
feelings, and in levels of consciousness.
If you have two or more seizures or a
tendency to have recurrent seizures, you
have epilepsy.
Temporary confusion
A staring spell
Uncontrollable jerking movements of the
arms and legs
Loss of consciousness or awareness
Cognitive or emotional symptoms, such as
fear, anxiety or deja vu
TYPES
Epileptic
Epileptic seizures occur when there are abnormal bursts of electricity in the brain. These bursts
disrupt the brain’s normal function and lead to some loss of consciousness or impaired senses.
Generalized seizures occur across the entire surface of the brain rather than a specific
location. These are less common and tend to be because of genetic factors. Most adults with
epilepsy experience partial seizures, which begin in a specific region of the brain. These
seizures can result from:
Brain injury, Stroke, Brain tumor, Diseases that affect the brain
Non-epileptic:
These seizures are triggered (provoked) by a reversible disorder or another condition that
irritates the brain, such as an infection or a reaction to a drug. In children, a fever can trigger a
non-epileptic seizure (called a febrile seizure).
Certain mental disorders can cause symptoms that resemble seizures, called psychogenic non-
epileptic seizures
Fever, Infection, Electrolyte imbalance, Withdrawal from drugs or alcohol, Extremely low
blood sugar, Brain damage from stroke, brain surgery, or head injury
CAUSES
Before age 2
High fevers
temporary metabolic abnormalities, such as abnormal blood levels of sugar (glucose)
calcium, magnesium, vitamin B6, or sodium, can trigger one or more seizures.
Seizures do not occur once the fever or abnormality resolves. If the seizures recurr without such
triggers, the cause is likely to be an injury during birth, a birth defect, or a hereditary metabolic
abnormality or brain disorder.
2 to 14 years
Often, the cause is unknown
Adults
A head injury, stroke, or tumor may damage the brain, causing a seizure
Alcohol withdrawal (caused by suddenly stopping drinking) is a common cause of seizures.
However, in about half of people in this age group, the cause is unknown.
Older adults: The cause may be a brain tumor or stroke
CYSTIC FIBROSIS (CF)
is a genetic disorder that affects mostly the lungs, but also
the pancreas, liver, kidneys, and intestine, Long-term issues
include difficulty breathing and coughing up mucus as a result of
frequent lung infections.
 SYMPTOMS

Cystic Fibrosis causes thick mucus in the lungs, it causes

wheezing and Shortness of breath.

When your child gets older they start to get sinus infections,
bronchitis, or pneumonia often. When you get cystic fibrosis you
start to get growths, called polyps, in the nose. You start to get
bulky, oily, or foul-smelling stool. You can also get too much gas,
constipation, or stomach pains. Weight loss or failure to gain
weight may start to happen. You will also have low bone density.
DIAGNOSIS

Newborn Screening
Sweat Test
Cystic Fibrosis Carrier Testing
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

Traumatic brain injury occurs when an external

mechanical force causes brain dysfunction results from a
violent blow or jolt to the head or body. An object
penetrating the skull, such as a bullet or shattered piece of
skull, also can cause traumatic brain injury.
Mild traumatic brain injury may cause temporary
dysfunction of brain cells. More serious traumatic brain
injury can result in bruising, torn tissues, bleeding and
other physical damage to the brain that can result in long-
term complications or death.
SYMPTOMS
Loss of consciousness for a few seconds to a few minutes
No loss of consciousness, but a state of being dazed, confused or disoriented
Headache, Nausea or vomiting
Fatigue or drowsiness
Difficulty sleeping
Sleeping more than usual
Dizziness or loss of balance
Sensory problems, such as blurred vision, ringing in the ears, a bad taste in
the mouth or changes in the ability to smell
Sensitivity to light or sound
Memory or concentration problems
Mood changes or mood swings
Feeling depressed or anxious
CAUSES

Falls
Vehicle-related collisions
Violence
Sports injuries
Explosive blasts and other combat injuries.
TREATMENT
Physical therapy
Occupational therapy
Speech and language therapy
Recreation therapy
Drug treatment
Surgery
Psychological