Optimizing Nutrition and Bone Health in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Children with cerebral palsy (CP) are at risk of growth and nutrition disorders. There are numerous challenges to measure and assess growth and nutritional status in children with CP. Addressing these challenges is imperative, because the consequences of poor growth and malnutrition range from decreased bone density, muscle mass, and quality of life to impacts on intellectual quotient, behavior, attention, social participation, healthcare utilization, and health care costs. In addition to discussing approaches to assess growth and nutrition, this article examines some of the methods of optimizing nutrition and bone health, including when preparing for and recovering from surgery.