ABSTRACT
Static paralytic problems in children may occur as the result of central nervous system disorders such as spina bifida and poliomyelitis or following disorders of the peripheral nervous system such as obstetric brachial plexus palsy and peripheral nerve injuries. Progressive paralysis may be encountered in muscular dystrophy and hereditary motor neuropathies. The most obvious manifestation of paralysis is the loss of function due to muscle weakness. Muscle paralysis in the lower limb impairs locomotion, while in the upper limb it affects the activities of daily living. Paralysis of one group of muscles acting on a joint can result in muscle imbalance if the antagonistic muscle group is either unaffected or less severely affected. Muscle imbalance, in turn, can lead to deformities and instabilities at joints. The main cause of joint deformities in paralytic conditions is muscle imbalance, although postural deformities may also occur in paralysed limbs.
