Question
Would you please explain to me: what cerebral palsy is?

Thanks
C Barwick

Answer
Hi Cameron,

I've provided an explanation found on the web (link provided). I hope this helps to answer your question.

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cerebral_palsy/cerebral_palsy.htm

The term cerebral palsy refers to any one of a number of neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement and muscle coordination but don抰 worsen over time. Even though cerebral palsy affects muscle movement, it isn抰 caused by problems in the muscles or nerves.  It is caused by abnormalities in parts of the brain that control muscle movements.  The majority of children with cerebral palsy are born with it, although it may not be detected until months or years later. The early signs of cerebral palsy usually appear before a child reaches 3 years of age.  

The most common are a lack of muscle coordination when performing voluntary movements (ataxia); stiff or tight muscles and exaggerated reflexes (spasticity); walking with one foot or leg dragging; walking on the toes, a crouched gait, or a 搒cissored?gait; and muscle tone that is either too stiff or too floppy.  A small number of children have cerebral palsy as the result of brain damage in the first few months or years of life, brain infections such as bacterial meningitis or viral encephalitis, or head injury from a motor vehicle accident, a fall, or child abuse.