The incidence of Spastic cerebral palsy is more common than the other types of CP. 50% of those identified as having CP belong to this category. It is characterized by the restriction in the movement of limbs and occurs usually as a consequence of damage to the cerebral cortex. The word spastic means" stiffness in the muscles.

The muscles become taut and very rigid making the simplest of movements difficult and jerky. Grasping a particular object or releasing it and changing positions are tasks that require great effort. Because the muscles are tight and not amenable to easy movement, they cannot be stretched easily and awkward movements result.

Whenever normal muscles work, one-group contracts and the other group relaxes and hence easy movement is achieved. Spastic muscles are in a state of war and constantly contract at the same time. To overcome the resistance, the patient has got to make a tremendous effort. Free movement is thus hindered.

The nature of spastic cerebral palsy can range from mild to severe. If it is mild it restricts only certain movements, but if it is severe, the whole body can be affected. Therapy, medication and sometimes-surgical intervention can go a long way in helping to alleviate the effects of spatiscity.

The limbs affected in spastic cerebral palsy can vary from individual to individual. When only one limb is affected (usually the arm) it is called Spastic monoplegia. If either arms or legs are incapable of movement, the patient suffers from what is known as Spastic Diplegia. When both the legs are affected, the muscles in the hips and legs become so tight that the legs turn inward and hence cross at the knees producing a scissors like appearance.

In fact the gait of the individual is referred to as " scissors gait" Spastic Hemiplegia as the word suggests is a form of cerebral palsy where one side of the body (usually the arm more than the lower limb) is affected. As the right side of the brain controls the left part of the body and the left side of the brain controls the right part of the body, the effects of cerebral palsy are seen in the opposite side of the side of the body. In spastic Triplegia, 3 limbs are affected.

In Spastic double Hemiplegia, there is stiffness of the muscles on both sides of the body, but when the right and left side is compared, the extent of shaking is different. In spastic Tetraplegia, both sides, the trunk and head are affected, making movement almost impossible. Children who are affected by Spastic quadriplegia are usually retarded and have trouble eating, speaking and swallowing. Tremors of the limbs are also usually observed.