Cerebral palsy: A reconceptualization of the spectrum

Approximately 50 years ago, interest in cerebral palsy increased, and the current definitions and classification were developed. The interplay among the dimensions of significant impairment, nonprogressive lesions, and persistence defines a group of children who were of interest to the researchers who developed the definition. Cerebral palsy as a definition does not attend to the broader issues of neurodevelopmental dysfunction. It isolates a portion of the spectrum of motor dysfunction and creates a category whose bounds are defined by a range of motor capability. The classifications of cerebral palsy that require revision are discussed. Some classifications should be discarded. Others should be brought in line with current knowledge and approaches. Still others should be modified to encompass the broader views of function and therapy that reflect the current expectations for persons with disabilities.