Updated Description of Cerebral Palsy

Chinese

更新的描述性定义

脑瘫（CP）是一种早发并持续终身的神经发育性状况，其特征是由于运动与姿势的发育受损而导致的活动受限，并常伴有肌张力异常，临床上可分为痉挛型、肌张力障碍型、舞蹈样手足徐动症型和/或共济失调型。其归因于胎儿或婴儿期脑部的畸形或损伤，尽管其症状与功能表现可能随年龄增长发生变化，但损伤本身是非进行性的。脑瘫的表型具有异质性、复杂性。每位个体都会有其独特的临床表现。除运动功能障碍外，脑瘫患者往往在发育与功能多个方面出现原发的和继发的损伤，这些损伤可显著影响其参与日常生活。

我们特意选择以“描述”而非“定义”的形式呈现文本，

通俗语言描述

脑瘫个体面临着复杂的身体障碍，这会终生影响他们的肌肉功能以及运动能力。脑瘫的病因是大脑局部的早期损伤。大脑损伤本身不会恶化，但其后果可能随时间变得更严重。每位脑瘫患者的情况都各不相同,所有患者均存在不同程度的肢体功能障碍；此外，其中许多人还同时面临学习、交流、视觉或其他方面的额外挑战。但是，只要拥有合适的资源、治疗和支持，脑瘫患者也可以拥有良好的生活质量，并充分发挥他们的潜力。

一句话概述

脑瘫是一种始于生命早期的异质性神经发育障碍，由非进行性脑损伤引起，影响运动能力，并且通常影响整个生命周期的其他功能方面。

全文译文请点击此处查看。https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dmcn.70258 

French

DESCRIPTION ACTUALISÉE

La paralysie cérébrale (PC) (en anglais cerebral palsy ; CP) est une condition neurodéveloppementale d’apparition précoce et présente tout au long de la vie, caractérisée par des limitations d’activité liées à une altération du développement du mouvement et de la posture, souvent associée à des anomalies du tonus musculaire, classées cliniquement en spasticité, dystonie, choréoathétose et/ou ataxie. Elle est attribuée à une malformation ou une lésion du cerveau du fœtus ou jeune enfant, de nature non dégénérative, bien que les manifestations cliniques et fonctionnelles puissent évoluer au cours de la vie. Le phénotype de la PC est hétérogène et peut être complexe, chaque personne présentant une expression clinique unique. Au-delà des troubles moteurs, les personnes vivant avec une PC présentent fréquemment des déficiences primaires et secondaires dans divers domaines du développement et du fonctionnement, susceptibles d’avoir un impact significatif sur leur participation aux activités de la vie quotidienne.

DESCRIPTION EN LANGAGE CLAIR

Les personnes vivant avec une paralysie cérébrale présentent une condition physique complexe qui affecte le fonctionnement de leurs muscles et leur capacité à se déplacer tout au long de la vie. La PC est liée à une atteinte précoce d’une partie du cerveau. Cette atteinte cérébrale elle-même n’évolue pas avec le temps, mais ses conséquences peuvent devenir plus marquées à différents moments de la vie. Chaque personne vivant avec une PC est unique. Si toutes présentent un certain degré de limitation motrice, beaucoup rencontrent également d’autres difficultés, notamment dans les domaines de l’apprentissage, de la communication, de la vision ou d’autres aspects du fonctionnement quotidien. Avec des ressources, des soins, des thérapies et un accompagnement adaptés, les personnes vivant avec une PC peuvent s’épanouir.

RESUME EN UNE PHRASE

La paralysie cérébrale est une condition neurodéveloppementale hétérogène, d’apparition précoce, causée par une atteinte cérébrale non dégénérative, qui affecte les capacités motrices et, fréquemment, d’autres domaines du fonctionnement, tout au long de la vie.

La traduction de l’article complet est disponible ici: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dmcn.70255

Italian

DESCRIZIONE AGGIORNATA

La paralisi cerebrale (PC) è una condizione permanente del neurosviluppo, a esordio precoce, caratterizzata da limitazioni dell’attività dovute a un alterato sviluppo del movimento e della postura; è una condizione comunemente associata ad anomalie del tono muscolare, clinicamente classificate come spasticità, distonia, coreoatetosi e/o atassia. È attribuita a una malformazione o a una lesione del cervello in epoca fetale o infantile, non è degenerativa, sebbene le manifestazioni cliniche e funzionali possano modificarsi con l’età. Il fenotipo della PC è eterogeneo e può essere complesso, e ogni persona presenta caratteristiche uniche. Oltre all’alterazione motoria, le persone con PC spesso presentano alterazioni primarie e secondarie in diversi ambiti dello sviluppo e del funzionamento, che possono influire significativamente sulla loro partecipazione alla vita quotidiana.

DESCRIZIONE IN LINGUAGGIO SEMPLICE

Le persone con paralisi cerebrale presentano una condizione psico-fisica complessa che influenza, nel corso della vita, il movimento e il funzionamento globale della persona. La paralisi cerebrale è causata da un danno precoce a una parte del cervello. Il danno cerebrale in sé non peggiora nel tempo, ma le sue conseguenze possono peggiorare con l’avanzare dell’età. Ogni persona con paralisi cerebrale è unica e, sebbene tutte presentino un certo grado di disabilità fisica, molte affrontano anche ulteriori difficoltà legate all’apprendimento, alla comunicazione, alla vista o ad altri aspetti del funzionamento. Con le risorse, le terapie e il supporto adeguati, le persone con paralisi cerebrale possono sviluppare appieno il proprio potenziale.

RIASSUNTO IN UNA FRASE

La paralisi cerebrale è una condizione eterogenea del neurosviluppo, che si manifesta precocemente; è causata da un’alterazione al cervello, non degenerativa, che influenza le abilità motorie e il funzionamento globale della persona nel corso dell’intero arco di vita.

Japanese

【改訂された説明】

脳性麻痺とは、人生の早期に発症し、生涯にわたり続く神経発達に関わる状態であり、その特徴は運動および姿勢の発達の障害による活動の制限で、一般的に筋緊張の異常を伴い、臨床的には痙縮、ジストニア、舞踏アテトーゼ、および／または失調として分類される。脳性麻痺は、胎児期または乳児期に生じた変性性でない脳の形成異常または損傷に起因するが、臨床症状や機能面での現れは年齢とともに変化しうる。脳性麻痺の臨床的表現型は多様で複雑であるため、各個人で独自の臨床像を有している。運動機能障害に加えて、脳性麻痺のある人は発達および機能のさまざまな領域にわたる一次的および二次的な障害にしばしば直面し、それらは日常生活における参加に大きな影響をおよぼすことがある。

【平易な言葉での説明】

脳性麻痺とともに生きる人々は、生涯にわたって、筋肉の働かせ方や動かし方に影響をあたえる複雑なからだの状態にあります。脳性麻痺の原因は、人生の早い段階で脳の一部に生じた損傷です。脳の損傷自体は悪化しませんが、その影響は年齢とともにより大きくなることがあります。脳性麻痺のある人はひとりひとりが異なり、すべての人に何らかの身体障害がある一方で、多くの人がさらに学習やコミュニケーション、視覚、その他の課題にも直面しています。適切な資源、治療、支援があれば、脳性麻痺のある人々は自分らしく力を発揮して生きていくことができます。

【一文での脳性麻痺の説明】

脳性麻痺とは、人生の早期に発症し、変性性でない脳障害に起因する多様性をもつ神経発達に関わる状態であり、生涯にわたり運動機能、そしてしばしばその他の機能面にも影響をおよぼす状態である。

Portuguese

DESCRIÇÃO ATUALIZADA

A paralisia cerebral (PC), termo oriundo do inglês cerebral palsy (CP) , é uma condição do neurodesenvolvimento de início precoce e ao longo da vida, caracterizada por limitações na atividade, decorrentes de deficiências no desenvolvimento do movimento e da postura, comumente associada a alterações do tônus muscular, categorizadas clinicamente como espasticidade, distonia, coreoatetose e/ou ataxia. É atribuída à malformação ou à lesão do cérebro fetal ou infantil que não é degenerativa, embora as manifestações clínicas e funcionais possam mudar com a idade. O fenótipo da PC é heterogêneo e pode ser complexo, com cada pessoa  apresentando uma forma única. Além da disfunção motora, pessoas com PC frequentemente apresentam deficiências primárias e secundárias em diversas áreas do desenvolvimento e da funcionalidade, que podem impactar significativamente sua participação na vida diária.

DESCRIÇÃO EM LINGUAGEM SIMPLES

Pessoas que vivem com paralisia cerebral apresentam uma condição física complexa que afeta a forma como seus músculos funcionam e como elas se movimentam ao longo da vida. A causa da paralisia cerebral é um dano precoce a uma parte do cérebro. O dano cerebral em si não piora, mas suas consequências podem se tornar mais severas ao longo do tempo. Cada pessoa com paralisia cerebral é única e, embora todas apresentem algum grau de deficiência física, muitas enfrentam desafios adicionais de aprendizagem, comunicação, visão ou outros. Com os recursos, terapias e apoios adequados, pessoas com paralisia cerebral podem   prosperar e ter uma boa qualidade de vida.

RESUMO EM UMA FRASE DA DESCRIÇÃO DA PC

Paralisia cerebral é uma condição heterogênea do neurodesenvolvimento, com início precoce na vida, causada por um distúrbio cerebral não degenerativo que afeta – principalmente – as habilidades motoras e, frequentemente, outros aspectos da funcionalidade ao longo da vida.

A tradução completa do artigo está disponível aqui: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dmcn.70256

Chinese

The task of translating the latest definition of cerebral palsy offered an opportunity that extended beyond simple lexical transfer. It required careful cultural and conceptual mediation. Our aim was to ensure that the Chinese text carried the same nuance as the source material, moving from a purely clinical description towards a broader framework attentive to identity and human rights.

A central challenge lay in the ambiguity of the term itself. The source text is intentionally descriptive rather than prescriptive, presenting a framework rather than a narrow clinical checklist. We therefore avoided imposing undue rigidity on the Chinese rendering and instead sought to preserve that openness. This meant balancing biomedical precision with the equally important dimensions of social understanding and identity recognition.

For the section of plain-language version. At that point, the text no longer functions solely as a diagnostic resource for specialists, but also as a statement that should be accessible to educators, policymakers, and families. We therefore prioritised clarity and readability, while avoiding unnecessary technicality, so that the translation remain both accurate and inclusive.

Our most deliberate lexical decisions centred on three key terms. The first concerned the translation of “condition”. We chose not to adopt the more common Chinese medical equivalent for “disease” (jíbìng), because it carries substantial social stigma and implies a pathological state of sickness. Instead, we selected a term closer to “state” or “status” (zhuàngtài). This choice was important in framing cerebral palsy not as an illness to be cured, but as a human state that requires support, thereby helping to reduce stigma.

The second term was the phrase “lifelong condition”. A literal translation could imply a fixed and unchanging prognosis, which does not fully reflect the intention of the original text. The emphasis, rather, is on the need for continuous and responsive support. For this reason, we situated the phrase within the context of service system development, allowing the translation to convey a life-course perspective in which healthcare, education, and social services must adapt to changing needs from childhood through adulthood.

The third, and perhaps most person-centred, term was “people with lived experience”. This expression carries greater conceptual depth than “patients” or even “people with cerebral palsy”. It acknowledges the embodied knowledge of individuals and families, and affirms the authority of that experience. Our translation was shaped to preserve this emphasis, while embedding a rights-based perspective that recognises individuals and families as experts in their own lives.

Ultimately, this translation seeks to do more than bridge two languages. It also reflects a broader shift in perspective. We hope it invites Chinese readers to understand cerebral palsy not through a narrow pathological lens, but through a wider framework that encompasses human experience, social responsibility, and inherent dignity.

This note was prepared by the following people:

Yang tao: Manager of Shijiazhuang Zhuoda Suncity Hospital

Wei Guorong: Therapist of Sanya Harbin medical university Hospital

Zhao Xiuying: Pediatric Doctor of Hainan provincial general hospital

Huang Renxiu: Physican in Chinese Medicine of Liuzhou Maternal and child health Hospital

Wang Qiu:  Therapist of Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University

Feng Lin: Pediatric Orthopaedic surgeon of Hongkong university Shenzhen hospital

Lin Nianian: Rehabilitation doctor of Shenyang childrens hospital

Zhu Dengna: Rehabilitation doctor of Zhengzhou university 3^rd hospital

Hu Shuxiang: Neuro developmental doctor of Xiamen university women and Childrens hospital

Hu Jihong: Neuro developmental doctor of Hunan provincial childrens hospital

Luo Xu: Therapist of Hebei provincial childrens hospital

Wang Sujing: Reseacher of Chinese Academy of Sciences (person with lived experience )

French

This translation was the work of a multidisciplinary team assembled by the Fondation Paralysie Cérébrale, bringing together clinical, scientific, and lived experience expertise.

While the description of cerebral palsy has been updated to reflect current scientific and societal understanding, the term itself remains unchanged. The most important decision was therefore to keep the established French term “paralysie cérébrale”. The English word “palsy” is rarely used outside of a handful of medical diagnoses and carries little weight in everyday language. The French word “paralysie”, by contrast, evokes complete loss of movement, which does not reflect the reality of most people living with cerebral palsy. We nonetheless chose continuity over revision. Across French-speaking countries, “paralysie cérébrale” is the term that connects people to services, disability recognition and research funding. Like the authors, we believe that what a diagnostic term means in practice depends on the knowledge and values that surround it. As our understanding of cerebral palsy grows – its causes, its diversity, its lifelong implications – the meaning of “paralysie cérébrale” grows with it. This updated description is part of that process. The choice of “condition” over “disorder” was deliberate, to keep the focus on the person rather than the deficit. For the annotation vocabulary, we relied on French ICF terminology, familiar to clinicians and researchers, to ensure the translation could be used directly in practice.

We hope this translation will help bring the updated description to French-speaking clinicians, researchers, families, policymakers, and people living with cerebral palsy worldwide.

Translation team: Professor Olivier Baud, Professor Mickaël Dinomais, Gaëlle Drewnowski, Dr Ana Presedo, Dr Auriane Destrument, Dr Amélie Griveau – on behalf of the Fondation Paralysie Cérébrale

Hebrew

To support dissemination of the updated clinical description, plain-language description, and one-sentence summary of cerebral palsy (CP)¹ in multiple languages and cultural contexts, we undertook a structured Hebrew translation process intended to strengthen understanding, communication, and inclusion across clinical, research, policy, and community settings. Our approach aimed to preserve the conceptual intent of the original text while ensuring the Hebrew version would be clear, respectful, and culturally relevant for use in Israel. We therefore used a multidisciplinary team and incorporated co-production with adults with CP and a family perspective, alongside paediatric clinical expertise, to support clarity and acceptability in real-world communication.

First, we conducted independent forward translations by three translators with complementary expertise: two paediatric physiotherapists and one paediatric neurologist. Each produced a full Hebrew translation independently, attending to meaning, terminology, and the pragmatic tone of Hebrew professional language. The three versions were then compared line by line and reconciled into a single agreed draft. During reconciliation, we explicitly marked terms and passages where agreement was incomplete or where alternative renderings could shift nuance, such as clinical specificity, person-centred framing, or potential ambiguity in Hebrew.

Next, the reconciled draft was circulated for targeted review by an expanded panel reflecting both clinical perspectives and lived experience, consistent with recommended stakeholder involvement. Reviewers included a paediatric neurologist, a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon, a health sociologist who is also the parent of an adult with CP, and two adults with CP. To focus attention on the most consequential wording decisions, sections identified as contentious in the reconciliation step were highlighted in advance. Reviewers were asked to comment on accuracy, clarity, acceptability, and the likelihood of consistent interpretation across audiences. Feedback was collated, discussed within the translation team, and integrated into a consolidated final version, which then underwent professional language editing to ensure the Hebrew translation is grammatically and stylistically sound.

Several translation decisions required substantial deliberation. We decided to retain the abbreviation “CP,” as it is commonly used in Hebrew discourse and widely recognized by clinicians and other stakeholders in Israel. The most prominent concerned the opening sentence of the updated clinical description. In the English version, the term “condition” appears after the initial qualifiers (“early-onset lifelong neurodevelopmental”), enabling the reader to establish a stable conceptual frame before proceeding through subsequent descriptors. In Hebrew, however, the natural word order places the equivalent of “condition” (“מצב”) immediately after “cerebral palsy,” before the qualifiers are established. This early placement made the sentence harder to follow and increased the risk that readers would lose track of the referent across the long chain of dependent clauses. To preserve meaning while improving coherence, we split the opening sentence into two shorter sentences: the first establishes the definitional frame (early-onset, lifelong, neurodevelopmental condition), and the second describes activity limitations and associated motor features. This maintained semantic fidelity while reducing syntactic load for Hebrew readers.

A second deliberation concerned technical terms without widely accepted, precise Hebrew equivalents. We retained “phenotype” and “malformation” in their commonly used loanword forms because available Hebrew alternatives were either imprecise or uncommon in Israeli professional discourse, and the retained terms are familiar to clinicians working in paediatric neurodisability. Finally, we paid close attention to person-centred framing, especially where Hebrew conventions might default to more medicalized or potentially stigmatizing formulations.

Overall, this stakeholder-informed, multidisciplinary process yielded a Hebrew translation that remains faithful to the original concepts while being clear, culturally attuned, and usable in Israeli clinical and community contexts.

¹Dan B, Rosenbaum P, Carr L, Gough M, Coughlan J, Nweke N. Updated description of cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2026;00:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.70149

Translation team:

Nilly Waiserberg^1,2: paediatric physical therapist

Nava Gelkop^2,3,4: paediatric physical therapist

Hanoch Kassuto^3,4: paediatric neurologist

Daniel Weigl^1,5: paediatric orthopedic surgeon

Ayelet Halevy^3,5,6: paediatric neurologist

Paula Feder-Bubis⁷: health sociologist and parent of an adult with cerebral palsy

Orly Chhiber-Ziv²: person with lived experience

Shay Ziv-Zbeda: person with lived experience

¹Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Israel

²Ministry of Education, Israel

³The Israeli association for child development and rehabilitation

⁴Jerusalem Multidisciplinary College, Israel

⁵Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, Israel

⁶Clalit Health Services, Israel

⁷Department of Health Policy and Management, Faculty of Health Sciences & Guilford Glazer Faculty of Business and Management, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Italian

The review of the definitions of cerebral palsy (CP) in Italian was conducted using a methodical approach based on multidisciplinary feedback and dissemination considerations. Between February 20 and 28, 2026, a group of 11 experts and individuals with lived experience, including child neuropsychiatrists, physiatrists, therapists, adapted sports specialists, people with CP and caregivers, participated in a survey providing observations on the texts. This approach ensured a balance between clinical accuracy, lived experience, and clarity for a general audience. Following the survey, a further in-depth discussion was carried out with the authors of the original definition, facilitated by Francesca Fedeli and Andrea Guzzetta, to refine the translation and ensure alignment with the original intent; during this phase, new terms were proposed, including “dismobility,” and alternative terminology was explored, such as the use of “paresis” in place of “paralysis”. However, it was ultimately decided to remain faithful to the original version.

The three final versions offer complementary perspectives:

• Version 1 provides a detailed clinical overview, referencing muscle tone, movement disorders, and phenotypic variability. It is thorough and precise, but long and less accessible to non-specialists.
• Version 2 emphasizes the psycho-physical dimension, global functioning, emotional and relational aspects, and challenges beyond motor abilities, integrating a positive perspective on potential and modifiability through interventions and social integration.
• Version 3 is brief and concise, summarizing early onset, non-progressive brain alteration, global functioning, and motor abilities, with clear and immediately accessible language.

The main challenges in translating from English involved balancing technical precision and readability, synthesizing the complexity of the condition without oversimplifying, conveying the concept of global functioning and modifiability, trying not to be ableist in the different usage of the terms and remaining faithful to the original text.

Key translation interventions included:

1. Terminological precision and inclusivity: replacing reductive terms with “psycho-physical and neurological” and “alteration or damage to the developing brain,” encompassing malformations and all forms of onset (fetal, perinatal, infantile).
2. Global functioning and complexity: explicitly including communication, learning, vision, behavior, and the emotional-relational sphere alongside motor abilities.
3. Modifiability and potential development: highlighting how rehabilitation, sports, and social integration can enhance autonomy, functionality, and independence.
4. Removal of the adjective “infantile”: all respondents agreed on eliminating the term “infantile,” as it inappropriately restricts the condition to the pediatric population and fails to reflect its lifelong nature.

This structured process produced three coherent and complementary versions: from the technical completeness of Version 1, to the clarity and positive outlook of Version 2, and finally the concise accessibility of Version 3. All respect the complexity of CP, the uniqueness of the individuals living with this condition, and the potential for personal development, offering a consistent framework for scientific, educational, and public communication.

The translation process was facilitated by FightTheStroke Foundation, the main Italian association for people with CP and their allies. We wish to acknowledge the following contributors, listed in alphabetical order, for providing consent to publish their names: Roberto D’Angelo¹, caregiver; Francesca Fedeli¹, caregiver; Adriano Ferrari², child neuropsychiatrist; Chiara Germiniasi³, physiatrist; Andrea Guzzetta⁴, child neuropsychiatrist; Fatiha Quaratino¹, person with CP; Giovanni Ricciardi¹, person with CP; Angela Setaro⁵, physical therapist; Giuseppina Sgandurra⁴, child neuropsychiatrist; Andrea Veronica Sironi¹, adapted sports trainer; Elisabeth Turra¹, physical therapist.

All terminology in this document has been selected to respect inclusivity and avoid ableist language.

Affiliations:

1 FightTheStroke Foundation, Milano, Italy

2 University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy

3 Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy

4 IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris and University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

5 ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy

Translation team

Translation team

Hércules Ribeiro Leite, Professor do Departamento de Fisioterapia da UFMG, Coordenador do Registro Brasileiro de Paralisia Cerebral, Membro Associado CanChild, McMaster University

Paula Silva de Carvalho Chagas, Professor da Faculdade de Fisioterapia da UFJF, Coordenadora Regional do Registro Brasileiro de Paralisia Cerebral, Membro Associado CanChild, McMaster University

Lívia Ferreira Coutinho Alonso, Bibliotecária da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, responsável por uma criança com paralisia cerebral.

Carla Andrea Cardoso Tanuri Caldas, Neuropediatra e Fisiatra, Coordenadora Médica do Centro de Reabilitação Lucy Montoro-HCFMRP-USP.

Thaís Mendes Sinibaldi, Psicóloga e Mestre em Ciências do Desenvolvimento Humano pela Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie

Kalyana Eduardo Fernandes, Ortopedista pediátrica, Preceptora do Instituto Santos Dumont, Médica Ortopedista do Centro Estadual de Reabilitação e atenção ambulatorial Especializada (CERAE/RN), Membro Correspente da AACPDM.

Aline Lincoln Silveira, Registro Brasileiro de Paralisia Cerebral (RB-PC); Diretoria Executiva da ISAAC Brasil. Psicóloga educacional especializada em educação especial e comunicação aumentativa e alternativa; mãe de uma criança com paralisia cerebral.

Tradução em nome do Registro Brasileiro de Paralisia Cerebral (RB-PC)