Understanding How Your Body Works Pentagon

Understanding Your Brain & Body

In order to understand cerebral palsy, it’s important to understand how our brain and body works and connects. Cerebral Palsy is caused by an injury to the developing brain occurring before, during or shortly after birth. This early brain injury often means the brain is not easily able to send clear messages to the body (such as to the muscles). As a result, posture and movement control, and sometimes other aspects of function, may be ‘impaired’. The more you understand, the more you’ll be able to help support your child, encourage skill development and improve outcomes. As you explore CP Resource articles that are about understanding how your brain & body works will be color coded teal. 

Get the Facts
  • Zach (3 years old) at PT, smiling and playing a game.
    Key Facts - Motor Types of Cerebral Palsy
  • Writer Sarah Kim sitting in her power wheelchair in front of an avenue of trees
    How Cerebral Palsy Affects Adults
  • Briana (Age 4) in therapy moving a puzzle piece with her PT
    Cerebral Palsy Treatment Overview
  • Owen (Age 2) sitting outside under a tree in a white shirt and brown shorts looking up and smiling into the distance
    Screening & Diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy
  • Ultrasound image of baby with their hand towards their mouth
    Key Facts - Risk Factors for Cerebral Palsy
  • Illustration of Spine with a brace on purple background
    If My Child Has Been Diagnosed With CP, Does This Mean They Will Have Other Medical Conditions?
Expert Videos
Podcasts
Relevant Research
Stories
  • Drawing of the profile of a person with a heart in the center of the brain
    Mental Wellness Among Adults with Cerebral Palsy
    Mental health care should be included at the outset, as part of discussions around physical, occupational, and speech therapies. I’ve seen studies on cerebral palsy’s effect on caregiver mental health — and that is important. Caregivers are part of the cerebral palsy community, too. It’s an interdependent one. There’s not enough about the nuance around how having cerebral palsy affects mental health.”
  • Collage of individuals wearing green shirts representing people with Cerebral Palsy and those who care about them.
    The History and Origin of Cerebral Palsy
    If you’re a history nerd like me, then you probably wondered about the origin of cerebral palsy at least once in your life. As an ever-inquisitive kid, that was certainly at the forefront of my mind, especially when I was old enough to truly comprehend that I had CP.
Support Tools
Talking with Professionals
Tips & Advice
  • Animation depicting a doctor evaluating a patients gait
    Gait Analysis Top Questions Answered
  • A screenshot from the YouTube video, "Tips"
    Tips For Having a Successful OB/GYN Appointment
  • Zach Anner outside in salmon shirt, flexing his arm
    Zach Anner & The Top 10 Things About Cerebral Palsy
Town Halls
CPF LIVE!
  • Dr. Heather Riordan has curley shoulder length light brown hair. She is wearing a tan short sleaved shirt and is smiling.
    CPF Live! Discussing Dyskinesia with Heather Riordan
  • Christopher Modleski has dark hair and is smiling wearing a white button down and grey blazer
    CPF LIVE! with Chris Modlesky, PhD: Exercise, Fitness and Research
  • Lily has short pixie like black hair and is smiling for the camera. She is wearing a maroon top.
    CPF LIVE! with Lily and Tommy Collison
  • Mary Gannotti has long brown hair and is smiling. She is wear a purple top and a purple beaded necklace.
    CPF LIVE! with Mary Gannotti: Pain Across the Lifespan
  • Mary Lauren has curly blond shoulder length hair and is wearing a white lab coat. She is smiling
    CPF LIVE! with Mary Lauren Neel, MD: Life after the NICU
  • Paulo Selber has short greyish brown hair and is smiling wearing a blue shirt, tie and blue blazer.
    CPF LIVE! with Paulo Selber, MD: Gait Analysis