A Prospective Study on Role of Nutrition in the Rehabilition of Cerebral Palsy Children in Eastern India

Cerebral palsy is a disorder of movement and posture resulting from an insult to the immature brain. Cerebral palsy affects muscle tone, muscle co-ordination, reflex and balance. It can also impact fine motor skills, gross motor skills and oral motor functioning Cerebral palsy children are found to be poorly nourished and also have decreased basal metabolic rate. Energy requirements of children with severe CP who utilize a wheelchair for mobility have been reported to be between 60 % to 70 % of those of healthy typically developing children. There is currently no commonly accepted method for estimating the energy needs of children and adolescent with CP. Adequate amount of carbohydrates, proteins and fats are needed to meet the energy requirement of the body. Standard recommendations for dietary intake of vitamins, minerals and trace elements should be utilizedParticipation in the rehabilitation program may increase the energy requirements of children with CP and needs to be considered when estimating energy needs.