The rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy: problems and current trends.

This article describes the currently accepted principles for the comprehensive treatment of children with cerebral palsy. Emphasis is given to the importance of the quickest possible diagnosis of even slight damage to the central nervous system, the implementation of early and continuous rehabilitation by a rehabilitation team, and the participants of physicians from other specialties. In comprehensive rehabilitation it is essential for a pediatric neurologist, a pediatrician, an orthopedic surgeon, a psychologist, and an education specialist to take part in the program. The primary constituent elements of comprehensive treatment for children with cerebral palsy are skillful selection of rehabilitation methods, pharmacological support as needed, orthopedic interventions, and essential orthopedic equipment. Success, however, depends on the active and complete involvement of the child's parents in comprehensive treatment from the first days after the child's birth.