02/17/2026
So much thought has gone into the updated definition of CP — have you read it?
Overall, I mostly like it. One major shift is the explicit focus on motor control and motor learning, rather than just muscle forces. That’s huge. It could redirect research away from spasticity alone and toward the underlying motor control challenges.
Key highlights:
• CP is described as a condition, not a disorder
• Impairment of functional development is central
• Selective motor control impairment is recognized
• It’s attributed to malformation or injury — acknowledging we don’t fully understand causation
• It must be recognized as an early neurodevelopmental diagnosis (typically within the first 2–3 years)
• “Phenotype” introduces genetics and gene function
• “Complex” acknowledges clinical, developmental, psychological, cultural, and social factors
• The relationship between activity limitations (ICF) and impairments in body structure/function is clarified — participation matters, but it’s not the primary diagnostic anchor
One disappointment: while sensory-motor aspects are discussed in the text, sensory factors are not included in the primary definition. In my view, that’s a significant miss. Sensory processing is often under-recognized but essential in therapy.
An uncomfortable reality: the CP acronym remains in the professional definition but is omitted in the public-facing one due to internet search associations.
Abbreviated definition:
Cerebral palsy is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition beginning in early life, caused by a non-degenerative brain disturbance affecting motor abilities and often other aspects of functioning across the lifespan.
Free full text:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/dmcn.70149
