The Muscle in Children With Cerebral Palsy - Longitudinal Exploration of Microscopic Muscle Structure.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a motor impairment due to a brain malformation or a brain lesion before the age of two. Spasticity, hypertonus in flexor muscles, dyscoordination and an impaired sensorimotor control are cardinal symptoms. The brain lesion is non-progressive, but the flexor muscles of the limbs will during adolescence become relatively shorter and shorter (contracted), forcing the joints into a progressively flexed position. This will worsen the positions of already paretic and malfunctioning arms and legs. Due to bending forces across the joints, bony malformations will occur, worsening the function even further. Since about 25 years a combination treatment with intramuscular botulinum toxin injections, braces and training has had a tremendous and increasing popularity, although lasting long-term clinical advantage is not yet proven. Muscle morphology of the biceps brachii and th