Treatment
recommended treatments and therapies to help children with CP
Once your child receives a diagnosis of CP, it is important to begin both treatment and therapy as soon as possible. Starting intervention at the early stages of CP can potentially minimize symptoms of the disorder and will help improve your child’s quality of life.
While we have provided a comprehensive list of treatments and therapies below, it is intended to be a brief introduction to the many options offered to help children with CP. We encourage you to talk about the specifics of each with your doctor before beginning any treatment plan. He or she will provide guidance as to which will best address your child’s specific needs.
Treatments 
Therapies 
Alternative Therapies 
The Right Mix Cerebral Palsy Treatments
Head Cooling
Children who suffer from a birth injury are given a head cooling treatment immediately after they are born to alleviate possible life-threatening damage, such as CP. It is important to note that head cooling does not specifically indicate a CP diagnosis; it is rather an immediate treatment given a child who suffers from some type of birth injury. Whenever a birth injury occurs, questions surface as to what caused the injury. While birth injuries occur naturally, they can also be caused by the medical negligence or malpractice of the hospital staff. It is highly recommended to get a second opinion of your medical records from a trusted, knowledgeable medical personnel. This individual will check your medical records to identify what went wrong in the birthing or delivery process that resulted in the need for head cooling.
Medications
Although not all cases of CP require medication, there are many that do. Today, there are multiple types of medications used to help manage a variety of conditions including seizures, spasticity, or gastrointestinal issues. These medications may be delivered orally with the help of a feeding tube or through an implanted pump.
Surgery
Surgical intervention is typically a last resort when medications, therapy, or other interventions fail to have a positive impact. Surgical intervention becomes utilized to loosen tight muscles and release fixed joints. Surgery can also taken advantage of to bring relief to a spasm or help with orthopedic issues such as hip dislocation.
Cerebral Palsy Therapies
The effects of CP on children are as varied as the children themselves. So, too, are the methods for treating those children. Treatment of CP can include physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, or psychotherapy. The more you know before meeting with your child’s doctor, the better prepared you’ll be to determine what treatment is best for your child.
Learn about cerebral palsy therapies.
Cerebral Palsy Alternative Therapies
Also known as “complementary,” alternative therapies are opening up new ways to treat some children with cerebral palsy. These constantly evolving approaches are often used to support conventional treatment methods.
Discover alternative cerebral palsy therapies.
Stem Cell Therapy
Stem Cell Therapy is a relatively new treatment offering very promising results in the treatment of Cerebral Palsy and other brain injuries. For many children, CP is caused by a perinatal central nervous system insult that creates damage to the brain. The goal of stem cell treatment is to enable the brain to repair this damage using stem cells, which hold the natural ability to do so.
Learn more about stem cell therapy for cerebral palsy.
Finding the Right Mix
As parents, it is our job to acquire as much knowledge as possible regarding different treatment and therapy options for our children. However, no amount of research can replace the advice of a qualified doctor. Determining the right combination of treatments and therapy is best achieved through close collaborations between yourself and your child’s doctors and caregivers.
