Assessing, recognising and managing pain and discomfort in children and young people with Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy (CP) refers to a range of conditions characterised by impairments in the child’s ability to move or control their movement; these impairments are caused by damage or lesions to the brain that usually occur before, during, or shortly after birth.
Across Europe, approximately 2 in every 1,000 live births are affected by CP, and CP is the most common cause of physical disability in children. Clinicians have typically focused on recognising and treating the motor problems that characterise this condition.
However, recent studies have highlighted that pain is a key factor that limits these children’s ability to participate in everyday activities and optimise their quality of life.