What lies beneath?: image characterisation of skeletal muscle in children with spastic cerebral palsy

[Truncated] Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most prevalent physical disability of children in the developed world. The non-specific motor impairments associated with CP, which occur secondary to upper motor neuron lesion(s), contribute to the reduced functional capacities observed in individuals with CP. Although the interaction of these motor impairments is complex, the primary deficits include: muscle tone abnormalities; muscle weakness; impaired balance and coordination; and loss of selective motor control. Secondary musculoskeletal problems include muscle contractures and bony deformities. There is an increasing awareness the secondary changes in pathological skeletal muscle(s), in addition to altered neural input, plays a key role on the progression of altered muscle function in individuals with CP.