Theory and Clinical Practice in Pediatrics

Cerebral palsy is the most common cause of disability that develops in infancy. This complex disorder affects adult life in a powerful way. Challenges include performing motor skills and achieving physical capabilities. The majority of individuals also report lifelong psychosocial stressors. Furthermore, mental health issues occur more commonly in this patient subset, as do struggles with employment and education. Often the severity of challenges correlates to the severity of the cerebral palsy. The prognosis of individuals with cerebral palsy has improved over the last three decades, although it continues to be a lifelong condition. In order to promote healthy aging across their lifespan, intervention programs should be considered to improve physical well-being, and care should be taken to maintain mental health.