What is the most common movement disorder in children?

Cerebral palsy is the most common movement disorder in children, affecting motor control and posture. It arises from abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain, which can occur during fetal development, at birth, or shortly after. This disorder is characterized by a range of motor disabilities, including difficulties with movement, coordination, and balance.

Cerebral palsy encompasses various types, including spastic, dyskinetic, ataxic, and mixed forms, each representing different patterns of movement abnormalities. Its prevalence surpasses that of other conditions listed, making it a significant public health concern in pediatrics.

While conditions like muscular dystrophy and spina bifida also affect movement, they are less common than cerebral palsy. Muscular dystrophy is a genetic disorder that causes progressive muscle degeneration, and spina bifida is a neural tube defect that affects the spine and may lead to mobility issues. Hemiplegic cerebral palsy is a specific type of cerebral palsy affecting one side of the body, but since cerebral palsy itself includes various forms and has a higher overall prevalence, it remains the primary answer to this question.