What finding should cause the nurse to suspect spastic cerebral palsy?

• A. Sudden jerking movement caused by stimuli
• B. Tremulous movements at rest and with activity
• C. Writhing, uncontrolled, involuntary movements
• D. Clumsy, uncoordinated movements

Answer: (A)

Spastic cerebral palsy is defined by increased muscle tone and heightened reflexes due to upper motor neuron injury, so an exaggerated, sudden jerk in response to a stimulus reflects an overactive reflex pathway consistent with spastic involvement. In contrast, tremor at rest and with movement points to a tremor disorder, writhing involuntary movements describe dyskinetic (athetoid) CP, and clumsy, uncoordinated movements are typical of ataxic CP.