Cerebral Palsy patient, Adam, in the garden at Scottish Rite with his arms out.

Cerebral Palsy

What We Treat

Cerebral palsy is a brain disorder that affects muscle tone, movement and coordination. Cerebral refers to the brain, while palsy refers to muscle weakness.

The disorder can occur because of an injury to the brain or abnormal growth during the brain's development.  It can affect children in different ways and can involve:

  • Motor skills
  • Muscle tone
  • Muscle weakness
  • Reflexes
  • Balance

Cerebral palsy cannot be cured, but it can be managed to prevent complications and make the most of the child's capability at home, in the community and in the future.

Services We Offer

Comprehensive care

Children with cerebral palsy need an interdisciplinary approach, and our team of pediatric specialists work together to provide comprehensive, ongoing care. Our team includes:

Nonsurgical options

Management of cerebral palsy can include surgery and nonsurgical approaches. Nonsurgical options include:

  • Medicines to decrease muscle stiffness
  • Physical, occupational or speech therapy
  • Orthotics (splints or braces)
  • Evaluation by specialists in orthopaedics, neurosurgery or ophthalmology

Surgical treatments

Surgical treatments that may help decrease your child’s muscle stiffness and improve his functioning include:

  • Muscle or tendon lengthening: Your child's doctor will lengthen the large muscles or tendons in the back of the leg or hip, or sometimes the muscles of the arm or hand.
  • Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR): Your child's doctor will cut some of the roots of nerves as they leave the spine. This helps stop the nerves from forcing the muscles to be rigid or tight.
  • Intrathecal baclofen: Your child's doctor will implant a pump and catheter to give special medicine to his spine. The medicine can help reduce spasticity.
  • Botulinum toxin (botox) and phenol treatment: Your child's doctor will inject botox (a type of protein) or phenol (an anesthetic) into the muscles. These can help loosen large muscle groups.
  • Bone, joint and spine surgery: A surgeon may need to adjust the bones, joints or spine to improve how those parts of the body move or function.

Learn more about our multispecialty clinics

Our Unique Approach

About half of people with cerebral palsy need braces, walkers or wheelchairs. Children's has a seating and mobility clinic and the only on-site, hospital-based pediatric orthotics and prosthetics practice in Georgia.

Having all of these services in our system allows us to provide more thorough visits with multiple specialties. This multidisciplinary approach can help streamline care and reduce the number of appointments your child must have.

Specialized services include:

  • Motion analysis: Using advanced technology, specialists can identify important muscle activity and movement to help develop a treatment plan.
  • Orthotics and prosthetics: Certified orthotists can evaluate, cast, fabricate and fit orthoses for your child's specific needs.
  • Assistive technology: Our therapists can help find the right kinds of assistive technology and teach your child how to use it.
  • Seating and mobility: By evaluating mobility equipment and your child's needs, our therapists can determine what works best.
  • Driver rehabilitation: Our certified specialist assesses a teen's ability to safely learn how to drive or return to driving.

Learn more about our rehabilitation programs

Meet the team

Ask your child’s doctor about a referral to our program. We will work with your child’s providers to decide the best treatment plan.

  • William R Boydston, MD

    William R Boydston, MD

    Neurosurgeon

    William R Boydston, MD

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    William R Boydston, MD

    Neurosurgeon

    Education

    • Graduate School: Medical College of Georgia - Augusta University (formerly Georgia Regents University)
    • Medical School: Medical College of Georgia - Augusta University (formerly Georgia Regents University)
    • Internship: University of Tennessee Health Science Center
    • Residency: University of Tennessee Health Science Center
    • Fellowship: Childrens at Scottish Rite

    Children's
    Physician Group

    The Children's
    Care Network

    MYchart
    Barunashish Brahma, MD

    Barunashish Brahma, MD

    Neurosurgeon

    Barunashish Brahma, MD

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    Barunashish Brahma, MD

    Neurosurgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: University of Michigan Medical School
    • Residency: University of Michigan Hospitals
    • Fellowship: Emory University School of Medicine

    Children's
    Physician Group

    The Children's
    Care Network

    MYchart
    Robert W Bruce, Jr, MD

    Robert W Bruce, Jr, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Robert W Bruce, Jr, MD

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    Robert W Bruce, Jr, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Vanderbilt University
    • Internship: University of Minnesota Hospitals
    • Residency: University of Minnesota Hospitals
    • Fellowship: Shriners Hospital
    • Fellowship: Minnesota Limb Length Center
    • Fellowship: Gillette Children's Hospital

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Thomas G Burns, PsyD, ABPP, CN

    Thomas G Burns, PsyD, ABPP, CN

    Neuropsychologist

    Thomas G Burns, PsyD, ABPP, CN

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    Thomas G Burns, PsyD, ABPP, CN

    Neuropsychologist

    Education

    • Undergraduate: University of Pennsylvania
    • Clinical Training: Fairleigh Dickinson University
    • Doctor of Psychology: Georgia School of Professional Psychology
    • Internship: Hahnemann University Hospital
    • Fellowship: Scottish Rite Childrens Md Ctr

    Children's
    Physician Group

    Joshua J Chern, MD, PhD

    Joshua J Chern, MD, PhD

    Neurosurgeon

    Joshua J Chern, MD, PhD

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    Joshua J Chern, MD, PhD

    Neurosurgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine
    • Internship: Baylor College of Medicine
    • Residency: Baylor College of Medicine
    • Fellowship: Childrens Hospital of Alabama

    Children's
    Physician Group

    The Children's
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    MYchart
    Bronier L Costas, MD

    Bronier L Costas, MD

    Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon

    Bronier L Costas, MD

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    Bronier L Costas, MD

    Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: University of Virginia School of Medicine
    • Internship: University of Minnesota
    • Residency: University of Minnesota
    • Fellowship: Harvard Medical School

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Sayan De, MD

    Sayan De, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Sayan De, MD

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    Sayan De, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Emory University School of Medicine
    • Internship: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
    • Residency: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
    • Fellowship: Childrens Hospital

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Antonius J DeGrauw, MD

    Antonius J DeGrauw, MD

    Neurologist

    Antonius J DeGrauw, MD

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    Antonius J DeGrauw, MD

    Neurologist

    Education

    • Medical School: Katholieke Universiteit
    • Internship: Katholieke Universiteit
    • Residency: Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center

    Children's
    Physician Group

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Jorge A Fabregas, MD

    Jorge A Fabregas, MD

    Jorge A Fabregas, MD

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    Jorge A Fabregas, MD

    Education

    • Medical School: Ponce School of Medicine
    • Internship: Temple University Hospital
    • Residency: Temple University Hospital
    • Fellowship: Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia

    The Children's
    Care Network

    MYchart
    Nicholas D Fletcher, MD

    Nicholas D Fletcher, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Nicholas D Fletcher, MD

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    Nicholas D Fletcher, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
    • Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
    • Fellowship: Texas Scottish Rite Hospital

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Bryce T Gillespie, MD

    Bryce T Gillespie, MD

    Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon

    Bryce T Gillespie, MD

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    Bryce T Gillespie, MD

    Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry
    • Residency: University of Rochester
    • Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital
    • Fellowship: Brigham & Women's Hospital

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Jamika L Hallman-Cooper, MD

    Jamika L Hallman-Cooper, MD

    Neurologist

    Jamika L Hallman-Cooper, MD

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    Jamika L Hallman-Cooper, MD

    Neurologist

    Education

    • Medical School: University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry
    • Residency: Washington University Affiliated Hospitals
    • Residency: Washington University
    • Fellowship: Washington University Affiliated Hospitals

    Children's
    Physician Group

    The Children's
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    Jeffrey Klugman, MD

    Jeffrey Klugman, MD

    Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon

    Jeffrey Klugman, MD

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    Jeffrey Klugman, MD

    Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
    • Internship: NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases
    • Residency: NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases
    • Fellowship: Harvard University Brigham & Womens Hospital

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Justin R Kunes, MD

    Justin R Kunes, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Justin R Kunes, MD

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    Justin R Kunes, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine
    • Residency: University of Kentucky Medical Center
    • Fellowship: Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital
    • Fellowship: Florida Orthopaedic Institute

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Gary M Lourie, MD

    Gary M Lourie, MD

    Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon

    Gary M Lourie, MD

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    Gary M Lourie, MD

    Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Duke University School of Medicine
    • Internship: Mount Sinai School of Medicine
    • Residency: Mount Sinai Hospital
    • Residency: Duke University
    • Fellowship: Indiana Ctr for Surgery & Rehab of the Hand

    The Children's
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    David J Marcus, PhD

    David J Marcus, PhD

    Neuropsychologist

    David J Marcus, PhD

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    David J Marcus, PhD

    Neuropsychologist

    Education

    • Doctor of Psychology: University of Minnesota at Minneapolis Medical School
    • Graduate School: Tufts University
    • Internship: Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia
    • Fellowship: Childrens National Medical Center

    Children's
    Physician Group

    Peter L Meehan, MD

    Peter L Meehan, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Peter L Meehan, MD

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    Peter L Meehan, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Joshua S Murphy, MD

    Joshua S Murphy, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Joshua S Murphy, MD

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    Joshua S Murphy, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: West Virginia University School of Medicine
    • Residency: Atlanta Medical Center

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Dana C Olszewski, MD

    Dana C Olszewski, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Dana C Olszewski, MD

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    Dana C Olszewski, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: University of Buffalo
    • Internship: Boston University Medical Center
    • Residency: Boston University Medical Center

    The Children's
    Care Network

    MYchart
    Timothy S Oswald, MD

    Timothy S Oswald, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Timothy S Oswald, MD

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    Timothy S Oswald, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: University of Florida College of Medicine
    • Internship: Emory University School of Medicine
    • Residency: Emory University School of Medicine

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Allan E Peljovich, MD

    Allan E Peljovich, MD

    Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon

    Allan E Peljovich, MD

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    Allan E Peljovich, MD

    Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon

    Education

    • Graduate School: Emory University School of Public Health
    • Medical School: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
    • Internship: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
    • Residency: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
    • Fellowship: Boston Children's Hospital
    • Fellowship: MetroHealth Medical Center

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Elizabeth A Poplawski, DO

    Elizabeth A Poplawski, DO

    Pediatric Physiatrist

    Elizabeth A Poplawski, DO

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    Elizabeth A Poplawski, DO

    Pediatric Physiatrist

    Education

    • Medical School: Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine
    • Internship: University of North Carolina Hospitals
    • Residency: University of North Carolina Hospitals
    • Fellowship: Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta

    Children's
    Physician Group

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Joshua A Ratner, MD

    Joshua A Ratner, MD

    Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon

    Joshua A Ratner, MD

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    Joshua A Ratner, MD

    Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Jefferson Medical College
    • Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
    • Fellowship: The Philadelphia Hand Center
    • Fellowship: Shriners Hospital for Sick Children

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Andrew Reisner, MD

    Andrew Reisner, MD

    Neurosurgeon

    Andrew Reisner, MD

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    Andrew Reisner, MD

    Neurosurgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Univ Of Witwatersrand
    • Internship: Johannesburg Hospital
    • Residency: Emory University
    • Fellowship: University of California - San Francisco

    Children's
    Physician Group

    The Children's
    Care Network

    MYchart
    I Leslie Rubin, MD

    I Leslie Rubin, MD

    I Leslie Rubin, MD

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    I Leslie Rubin, MD

    Education

    • Medical School: University of Witwatersrand
    • Internship: University of Witwatersrand
    • Residency: University of Witwatersrand
    • Residency: University Hospitals of Cleveland
    • Residency: University of Witwatersrand
    • Fellowship: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Michael L Schmitz, MD

    Michael L Schmitz, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Michael L Schmitz, MD

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    Michael L Schmitz, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Boston University School of Medicine
    • Internship: Boston University School of Medicine
    • Residency: Boston University School of Medicine
    • Fellowship: Childrens at Scottish Rite

    The Children's
    Care Network

    MYchart
    Tim Schrader, MD

    Tim Schrader, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Tim Schrader, MD

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    Tim Schrader, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine
    • Residency: Tulane University Medical Center
    • Residency: Raymond Morrissy, MD
    • Fellowship: Boston Childrens Hospital

    The Children's
    Care Network

    MYchart
    Joshua A Vova, MD

    Joshua A Vova, MD

    Pediatric Physiatrist

    Joshua A Vova, MD

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    Joshua A Vova, MD

    Pediatric Physiatrist

    Education

    • Medical School: University of South Florida College of Medicine
    • Residency: Jacobi Medical Center
    • Residency: Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
    • Fellowship: Childrens Hospital

    Children's
    Physician Group

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Barbara M Weissman, MD

    Barbara M Weissman, MD

    Pediatric Neurologist

    Barbara M Weissman, MD

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    Barbara M Weissman, MD

    Pediatric Neurologist

    Education

    • Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
    • Internship: University Hospitals of Cleveland
    • Residency: University Hospitals of Cleveland
    • Fellowship: University Hospitals of Cleveland

    Children's
    Physician Group

    The Children's
    Care Network

    David Wrubel, MD

    David Wrubel, MD

    Neurosurgeon

    David Wrubel, MD

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    David Wrubel, MD

    Neurosurgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: University of Miami Leonard M Miller School of Medicine
    • Residency: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

    Children's
    Physician Group

    The Children's
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    MYchart

Locations

Hughes Spalding hospital

35 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE

Atlanta, GA 30303

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Children's Medical Office Building (at Scottish Rite hospital)

5455 Meridian Mark Road NE

Atlanta, GA 30342-1654

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Children's at North Druid Hills

1605 Chantilly Drive NE

Atlanta, GA 30324-3269

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View all cerebral palsy care locations