What finding should cause the nurse to suspect spastic cerebral palsy?

What finding should cause the nurse to suspect spastic cerebral palsy?

• A. Sudden jerking movement caused by stimuli
• B. Tremulous movements at rest and with activity
• C. Writhing, uncontrolled, involuntary movements
• D. Clumsy, uncoordinated movements

Answer: (A)

Spastic cerebral palsy is defined by increased muscle tone and heightened reflexes due to upper motor neuron injury, so an exaggerated, sudden jerk in response to a stimulus reflects an overactive reflex pathway consistent with spastic involvement. In contrast, tremor at rest and with movement points to a tremor disorder, writhing involuntary movements describe dyskinetic (athetoid) CP, and clumsy, uncoordinated movements are typical of ataxic CP.

Spastic cerebral palsy is defined by increased muscle tone and heightened reflexes due to upper motor neuron injury, so an exaggerated, sudden jerk in response to a stimulus reflects an overactive reflex pathway consistent with spastic involvement. In contrast, tremor at rest and with movement points to a tremor disorder, writhing involuntary movements describe dyskinetic (athetoid) CP, and clumsy, uncoordinated movements are typical of ataxic CP.