Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy: A Practical Guide for Australians
Last updated 30 October 2026 · 9 min read · By Sarah M., Support Coordinator
In short
Spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy is a form of cerebral palsy with stiff, tight muscles that affects both arms and both legs. Cerebral Palsy Alliance describes quadriplegia as the most severe of the three body-distribution patterns.
This guide explains the terms, what it can look like, how it is assessed and what support exists in Australia. It builds on our overview of cerebral palsy explained.
Key points
Quadriplegia means cerebral palsy affecting both arms and both legs, and spasticity means stiff and tight muscles.
Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common form, at 70-80% of cerebral palsy according to Cerebral Palsy Alliance.
Words such as spastic, dystonic, quadriplegic and tetraplegic describe different things, and a specialist can explain which apply to the person.
Support is built around the person’s daily life, and funding through the NDIS depends on meeting the access requirements.
Spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy at a glance
What it is
Spastic cerebral palsy affecting both arms and both legs
How common is the spastic type
70-80% of cerebral palsy is spastic (Cerebral Palsy Alliance)
Who can assess it
Your GP, paediatrician or specialist team
Everyday support
Personal care, community access, respite and help around the home
NDIS relevance
Funding depends on meeting the NDIS access requirements
Official sources
healthdirect, Cerebral Palsy Alliance, Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne
Quadriplegic cerebral palsy definition
The definition combines two ideas: which parts of the body are affected, and what the movement difficulty feels like.
Quadriplegia: bilateral cerebral palsy that affects both arms and both legs, and the most severe of the three patterns Cerebral Palsy Alliance describes (Cerebral Palsy Alliance).
Hemiplegia: unilateral cerebral palsy affecting one arm and one leg on the same side of the body.
Diplegia: cerebral palsy affecting both legs, with the arms affected to a lesser extent. Our guide to spastic diplegic cerebral palsy covers this pattern.
Spastic: the movement type with stiff and tight muscles, which healthdirect says is the most common problem in cerebral palsy.
Ask for your specialist’s written report, and ask them to explain the type and the body areas affected in plain words.
Spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy in plain language
Put the two ideas together and you get stiff, tight muscles across both arms and both legs, with effects that differ from person to person.
Muscles in the arms and legs can feel stiff or tight, which can make reaching, grasping, sitting or standing harder.
Some people use a wheelchair, postural supports or other equipment, while others use different aids, and a therapist can advise on what suits the person.
Some people need help with personal care, meals or moving around, and some need support to communicate, which a speech pathologist can assess.
Every person has their own strengths, interests and goals, so ask for support that starts with those.
If you read about spastic cerebral palsy more broadly, the same ideas apply, with the body areas affected being the main difference.
Cerebral palsy spastic quadriplegia and other terms you will see
Reports, websites and services use slightly different words, so it helps to know what each one is pointing at.
Term you may see
What it usually points to
What to ask your specialist
Cerebral palsy spastic quadriplegia
The same condition worded the other way round: spastic movement type, both arms and legs affected
Whether the report uses this wording and why
Spastic tetraplegia cerebral palsy
Another wording for four-limb involvement
Whether it means the same as quadriplegia in this report
Spastic tetraplegic cerebral palsy
The adjective form of the same wording
How the term is being used for this person
Tetraplegic cerebral palsy
Four-limb involvement, without naming the movement type
Which movement type applies
Terms differ between services, so ask the person’s specialist to explain the wording used in any report you are given.
Looking for NDIS support at home?
TQN Care support workers help with personal care, community access, respite and help around the home across Sydney, Melbourne and surrounding areas (NSW & VIC). Tell us what you need and we will call you back.
Spastic dystonic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and mixed types
Some people have more than one movement type, which is why you may see a combined label in a report.
Cerebral Palsy Alliance lists dyskinetic cerebral palsy at 6%, and describes it as involving involuntary movements.
Mixed cerebral palsy is a combination of types, and spastic dystonic quadriplegic cerebral palsy would describe a combination involving stiffness and involuntary movement.
Ataxic cerebral palsy, also 6%, involves shaky movements affecting balance.
Dystonic quadriplegic cerebral palsy: how it differs
Dystonic features involve involuntary movements, which Cerebral Palsy Alliance groups under dyskinetic cerebral palsy, so the movement pattern differs from the stiffness of the spastic type.
Feature
Spastic
Dystonic or dyskinetic
Main movement feature
Stiff and tight muscles
Involuntary movements
Share of cerebral palsy
70-80%
6% (dyskinetic)
Body areas affected
Depends on the pattern, such as both arms and both legs in quadriplegia
Depends on the person
Who explains it for you
Your specialist team
Your specialist team
What spastic tetraplegic cerebral palsy can look like
healthdirect lists a range of symptoms in cerebral palsy, and not every person has all of them (healthdirect).
Stiffness or floppiness in the muscles, and exaggerated reflexes or jerking.
Assessment and support are led by health professionals, and the steps below show one common way to start.
1Book a GP appointment. Bring a short list of what you have noticed, such as movement, feeding or milestones, and ask for a referral if needed.
2See a paediatrician or specialist. They assess movement and type, and explain what the diagnosis means for the person.
3Ask about allied health. Physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech pathologists can help with movement, daily tasks and communication.
4Keep reports together. Store specialist letters and therapy reports in one folder so they are ready for planning meetings.
5Review supports regularly. Needs change over time, so check in with the treating team about what is working. Our guide to treatment for cerebral palsy explains the options.
Daily life and support at home
Practical support is about helping the person do what matters to them, safely and with dignity.
Personal care support at set times, planned with the person and their family so routines feel respectful and unhurried.
Mealtime support that follows the advice of the person’s speech pathologist or dietitian, especially where swallowing is a concern.
Community access to shops, appointments, sport and social activities with a support worker who knows the person’s equipment and routines.
Respite so family carers can rest, knowing the person is supported by someone trained in their needs.
Help around the home, such as laundry and meal preparation, to free up energy for family time.
Bring specialist letters and therapy reports to the planning meeting.
Keep a two-week diary of daily support needs to show what help is required.
Check the NDIS website, and ask the NDIA or your support coordinator, if you have one, what the plan can fund.
When to talk to a GP or specialist
These are good reasons to book an appointment, and none of them should wait for a crisis.
You notice stiffness or floppiness, or your child is not reaching movement milestones.
Feeding, sucking or swallowing seems difficult or tiring.
Movements look jerky, uncontrolled or different from before.
Pain, discomfort or sleep problems are getting in the way of daily life.
You are unsure what a report means, or you want support to understand the types of cerebral palsy.
Call 000 in an emergency. If you are a carer feeling overwhelmed, Lifeline is available on 13 11 14.
Looking for NDIS support at home?
TQN Care support workers help with personal care, community access, respite and help around the home across Sydney, Melbourne and surrounding areas (NSW & VIC). Tell us what you need and we will call you back.
If you or someone you care for needs hands-on help at home, TQN Care can talk through what that could look like. We provide high-care and complex support with personal care, community access, respite and help around the home across Sydney, Melbourne and surrounding areas (NSW & VIC). We support daily life, not treatment. Make a referral or call us, and we will listen first.
SM
Sarah M., Support CoordinatorTQN Care is a registered NDIS provider supporting people across Sydney, Melbourne and surrounding areas (NSW & VIC).
Common questions
FAQs about spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy
What is the quadriplegic cerebral palsy definition? +
Quadriplegic cerebral palsy is bilateral cerebral palsy that affects both arms and both legs. Cerebral Palsy Alliance describes it as the most severe of the three body-distribution patterns. When the type is spastic, the muscles are stiff and tight.
Is spastic tetraplegia cerebral palsy the same as quadriplegia? +
Both words are used for four-limb involvement. Ask your specialist how they use each term in the person’s report so that you, your therapists and your support team all share the same meaning.
What is dystonic quadriplegic cerebral palsy? +
Dystonic quadriplegic cerebral palsy describes involuntary movements affecting both arms and both legs. Cerebral Palsy Alliance lists cerebral palsy with involuntary movements as dyskinetic, at 6% of cerebral palsy. Some people have a mix of types, so ask your specialist which applies to the person you support.
Can a person have spastic and dystonic features together? +
Mixed cerebral palsy is a combination of types, so a person may have stiffness and involuntary movements together. Your specialist can explain what this means for the person, and your therapists can tailor daily supports accordingly.