What causes spastic paralysis?

Honor Society of Nursing (STTI)

Spastic paralysis occurs when motor neurons, which control movement, are damaged. This damage may result from an injury that a newborn sustains before birth or during early infancy, resulting in cerebral palsy. In rare cases it is hereditary, with the condition being passed on through a mutated ALS2 gene. This causes infantile-onset ascending spastic paralysis (IAHSP).

Continue Learning about Physical Disabilities

What do Winston Churchill and James Earl Jones have in common besides a deep voice and a robust stature? They were both stutterers. Stuttering that l...

Louis Rosner

Most disability scales used in the United States today only measure physical impairment and the ab...

Ruth White, MPH

According to the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), an individual with a disability is a person w...

Challenge America

Don't be embarrassed if you happen to use accepted, common expressions such as "See you later" or "D...

Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.

Physical Disabilities

Physical disabilities can be sensory, where there are problems with sight, hearing or speech, or they may impair motor function, so that movement is restricted or imprecise. Injuries may cause a disability, and disease such as a heart condition may also make normal exertion impossible. Some disabilities start at birth - congenital disabilities. Others are acquired during life. If you have a disability, it is almost certain that there are many others who do also. Most conditions have support groups or associations that have grown up relating to the problem. These groups may offer specialized help to minimize the effect of the condition.

Learn More