Hemiplegia
What is hemiplegia?
Hemiplegia is total weakness or paralysis on one side of the body. Alternating hemiplegia affects one or both sides of the body. It affects about one in 1,000 children.
What are the symptoms of hemiplegia?
Hemiplegia symptoms are:
- Motor skill loss
- Limb weakness/paralysis
- Loss of balance
What causes hemiplegia?
Hemiplegia can be congenital (about 80% of the time) or acquired (20% of the time). It can be caused by brain injury, stroke or infection. If it develops before two years of age, it is congenital. If it develops later in life, it is acquired. There is a higher risk of hemiplegia in premature babies.
How is hemiplegia diagnosed?
Hemiplegia is diagnosed through:
- Clinical evaluations
- CT scan
- Magnetic resonance brain imaging
- Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Physical Performance (FMA)
- Chedoke-McMaster Stroke Assessment (CMSA)
- Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement (STREAM)
What treatments are available for hemiplegia?
Hemiplegia treatments include:
- Physical therapy
- Neuromuscular electrical simulation
- Constraint-induced movement
- Mirror therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Valium or Librium
- Surgery
- Rehabilitation
