How cerebral palsy affects the body

Cerebral palsy affects people in different ways – some people experience minor motor skill problems, while others may be totally physically dependent.

Cerebral palsy distorts messages from the brain to cause increased muscle tension (called hypertonus) or reduced muscle tension (called hypotonus). Sometimes this tension fluctuates, becoming more or less obvious. Messages from the brain may also be mistimed, sent to the wrong muscle, or not sent at all. This affects the timing, quality and synchronisation of messages, generally resulting in erratic movement of the muscles. Only the message path between the brain and muscles is affected, not the muscles themselves. Cerebral palsy can be categorised into four main areas, according to the parts of the body it affects:

Quadriplegia – all four limbs are affected and the muscles of the face and mouth may also be affected.

Diplegia – all four limbs are affected, but legs more so than arms.

Hemiplegia – one side of the body is affected.


Paraplegia – both legs, but neither of the arms, are affected.