Christy Brown was born with triple gia ath oid cerebral palsy. He showed very tight limb muscles (spasticity) in his extremities affecting his movements. He was very stiff and rigid (showing a severe form of spasticity) and had great difficulty moving from one position to another. However, his trunk control was very good.
He scoots himself backward on the floor to get around and uses his left foot to move other leg. He seems to have good flexion in his left limb. His lips muscles are very tight and his face is distorted when moving himself. His arms are very stiff and to his sides. However, he shows good muscle control in his neck area.
He moves his neck from side to side and holds neck in hyperextension when speaking. It also looks as if his left shoulder is lifting. When blowing out candles he shows good righting reflexes. When Christy is placed on the floor he usually lies on his side or is propped up against the back of the stairs.
When he started to write with the chalk he lays more on his back with his head in flexion. Later on his muscle tone becomes more normal in his left foot which he learns how to use very adeptly to paint and write. When being taken up the stairs his parents usually carry him over their shoulders because of his rigid muscle tone and also so he can see his surroundings. When Christy is placed on the bed he uses primitive reflexes to control his situation. Christy sits backwards with knees drawn in when being pushed in the wagon. I think he sits backwards in the wagon so he can be in control of his surroundings as he shows much apprehension, especially in association with movement, and being able to see the person who is pushing him probably calms him down, as he feels comfortable with the familiar person.
The Essay on Differences Between the Excitation-Contraction Coupling Mechanism Between Skeletal and Cardiac Muscles
Outline the differences between the excitation-contraction coupling mechanism between skeletal and cardiac muscles. Excitation-contraction coupling is the combination of the electrical and mechanical events in the muscle fibres and is related by the release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. (Silverthorn, 2007) In the skeletal muscle, action potential in the nerves is generated when the ...
His neck goes from side to side also. When sitting up his head is usually in hyperextension. Also when Christy is cold he tightens up even more and becomes very rigid. He also showed the symptoms of clonus (a rapid succession of alternating contractions and partial relaxations of his muscles).
When Christy gets upset he has much difficulty speaking. His speech becomes much slower and harder to get the words out. He also grasps the handles of his wheelchair very tightly. He breathes much heavier and shakes more when he is upset. He demonstrates very good trunk control when banging head on table at restaurant.
Christy also demonstrated athetosis when he became upset or under stress. He would show uncontrolled, jerky and twisting movements of the extremities when he became upset. His personality would also change showing great emotional distress as well as anger. He would also start to drool when he became upset.
