MODEL RELEASED. Boy with cerebral palsy. 10-year-old boy with cerebral palsy (foreground) riding a specially adapted tricycle with his mum. This bike helps him to strengthen his legs. His feet are strapped in to the pedals as he has little control of his ankles. Cerebral palsy is a developmental abnormality of the brain that results in weakness and lack of coordination of the limbs. The brain damage occurs before, during, or shortly after birth and may be caused by injury, haemorrhage, lack of oxygen, meningitis, viral infection or faulty development. The most common disability is a spastic paralysis which may cause fixed deformities of the limbs. Defective sight and hearing, lack of balance, involuntary writhing movements and epilepsy are common, and intelligence is often impaired. |