Which of the following types of cerebral palsy affects muscles and movements resulting in stiffness?

Cerebral palsy encompasses a variety of motor function disorders that can affect movement, posture, and coordination. The type characterized by stiffness in muscles and movements is known as spastic cerebral palsy. This form results from signals between the brain and muscles being disrupted, leading to a condition known as hypertonia, where the muscles become overly tight and rigid. This increased muscle tone can make voluntary movements difficult and can result in awkward gait and postures.

Spastic cerebral palsy is the most prevalent type, affecting approximately 70-80% of individuals diagnosed with the condition. It can affect different parts of the body, leading to classifications such as spastic diplegia, spastic hemiplegia, and spastic quadriplegia, depending on the extent and areas of muscle involvement.

In contrast, dyskinetic cerebral palsy involves uncontrolled movements and fluctuations in muscle tone rather than stiffness, while ataxic cerebral palsy is primarily characterized by balance and coordination problems without the stiffness typically seen in spastic types. Mixed cerebral palsy encompasses features from different types, including both spastic and dyskinetic elements, but does not singularly emphasize stiffness as a defining characteristic like spastic cerebral palsy does.