Celebrating Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day on 25th March

Members of the London Orthotic Consultancy team wearing green for Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day

At The London Orthotic Consultancy, our passion lies in empowering individuals with cerebral palsy to live with confidence, comfort, and independence. We recognise that every person’s journey is unique, and we are deeply committed to providing expert orthotic care tailored to each individual’s needs.

Cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability in childhood, affecting movement, coordination, and posture. The condition is caused by a brain injury or abnormal brain development before, during, or shortly after birth.

While every person with cerebral palsy is unique, early intervention and the right support can make a significant difference to mobility, independence, and overall quality of life.

What is cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition that affects muscle tone, movement, and motor skills. It can range from mild to severe and may impact one or multiple limbs. People with cerebral palsy may experience:

• spasticity: stiff muscles that limit movement.
• dyskinesia: involuntary, uncontrolled movements.
• ataxia: balance and coordination difficulties.

Cerebral palsy is a non-progressive condition, meaning the brain injury does not worsen over time, but its effects can change as a child grows.

Types of cerebral palsy

• spastic cerebral palsy: the most common type, causing stiffness and difficulty with movement.
• dyskinetic cerebral palsy: characterised by involuntary movements and difficulty with control.
• ataxic cerebral palsy: affects balance and coordination, making fine motor skills more challenging.
• mixed cerebral palsy: a combination of different movement patterns.

Related pages:

How can orthotics help?

Orthotic devices play a crucial role in managing movement challenges associated with cerebral palsy.

At The London Orthotic Consultancy, we provide customised orthotics tailored to each individual's needs, helping to:

• improve stability and balance for better mobility.
• reduce muscle tightness and spasticity to enhance comfort.
• support correct posture and alignment to prevent complications.
• promote independence in walking and daily activities.

Some of the key orthotic solutions for cerebral palsy include:

• Ankle foot orthoses and supra malleolar orthoses – stabilise the foot and ankle, improving walking patterns.
• Knee ankle foot orthoses (KAFOs) – provide additional support for those with significant lower limb weakness.
• Gait lab assessments – advanced analysis to ensure the best orthotic prescription for each individual.
• Agilik™ – a revolutionary assistive device designed to improve walking ability in individuals with cerebral palsy by supporting movement patterns and enhancing muscle control.

Free Agilik™ assessments

To mark Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day on the 25th March our team at The London Orthotic Consultancy is offering free Agilik™ assessments in our gait lab clinics in Kingston, Cambridge, and Manchester to a limited number of patients.

To be eligible, patients need to be:

• a minimum of 5 years old
• 20 KG or more
• able to walk a minimum of 10 steps with their walking aid

These assessments are subject to availability, so please get in touch to secure an appointment.

The Agilik smart orthosis