Spastic Hemiplegia–Unilateral Cerebral Palsy: Understanding and managing the condition across the lifespan: A practical guide for families

by Lily Collison, Marcie Ward, Elizabeth R. Boyer (editor)

Spastic hemiplegia is a very common subtype of cerebral palsy (CP), and CP itself is the most common cause of childhood-onset physical disability. An estimated 17 million people worldwide have CP. Spastic hemiplegia is also known as unilateral spastic CP or, simply, unilateral CP. Spastic hemiplegia affects the upper and lower limbs of one side of the body. The upper limb is usually more affected than the lower limb. This practical guide addresses spastic hemiplegia across the lifespan and the evidence-based, best-practice treatments. It also includes the lived experience of families.


The writing of Spastic Hemiplegia was led by Marcie Ward, MD, Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine Physician at Gillette Children’s, a world-renowned center of excellence for the treatment of brain, bone, and movement conditions. Spastic Hemiplegia is part of the Gillette Children’s Healthcare Series, a series of books for families who are looking for clear, comprehensive information. Health care professionals, educators, students, and extended family members will also benefit from reading Spastic Hemiplegia.


Other titles in the series


• Craniosynostosis


• Idiopathic Scoliosis


• Spastic Quadriplegia–Bilateral Cerebral Palsy


• Spastic Diplegia–Bilateral Cerebral Palsy, second edition


• Epilepsy


• Spina Bifida


• Osteogenesis Imperfecta


• Congenital, Neuromuscular, Syndromic, and Other Causes


Changes from previous edition


N/A


About the topic


Cerebral Palsy is a group of conditions caused by an injury to the developing brain, which can result in a variety of motor and other problems that affect how the child functions. As the injury occurs in a developing brain and growing child, problems often change over time, even though the brain injury itself is unchanging.


Spastic hemiplegia affects the upper and lower limbs of one side of the body. The upper limb is usually more affected than the lower limb. Spasticity is the most common type of atypical tone present in individuals with hemiplegia although dystonia can be present as well.

399 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 3, 2024

About the author

Program Director, Gillette Children’s Press at Gillette Children's Hospital, Minnesota. Currently working as author/editor on the Gillette Children’s Healthcare Series–a series of nine books on childhood-acquired physical and neurological conditions. Five books co-published December 2024 with Mac Keith Press, UK, including:
- Craniosynostosis
- Idiopathic Scoliosis
- Spastic Hemiplegia—Unilateral Cerebral Palsy
- Spastic Quadriplegia—Bilateral Cerebral Palsy
- Spastic Diplegia—Bilateral Cerebral Palsy, second edition

Four due 2025/6
- Epilepsy
- Spina Bifida
- Non-idiopathic scoliosis
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Previous books include:
- Spastic Diplegia–Bilateral Cerebral Palsy, first edition (2020)
- Pure Grit, co-authored with Kara Buckley, (2021)