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Hearing about SDR for the first time can feel overwhelming or even a little scary. But understanding what the surgery actually does and how it helps the body move with more freedom makes the whole process clearer and the decision easier. This page breaks SDR down in simple language so you can feel informed and confident as you explore your options.
Helping Kids Understand SDR
Helping Kids Understand SDR
What is SDR?
Think of your muscles like rubber bands. Most people’s rubber bands can stretch and relax when they want them to. But with CP, some of your rubber bands are pulled too tight all the time, even when you don’t want them to be. That can make walking, running, and moving harder.
Inside your back are tiny “wires” (nerves) that send messages to your muscles. Some of those wires send too many “tighten up!” messages, which makes your muscles feel stiff.
SDR is a surgery where a doctor finds the wires that are sending the wrong messages and turns them off.
After SDR:
your muscles don’t fight you as much
moving feels easier
walking can get smoother
therapy helps you get stronger
It doesn’t fix everything, but it helps your body feel more cooperative... like it’s finally working with you instead of against you.
Dr. Willams and Dobbs have written a book about CP and SDR to help kids understand the process titled, "I Will". You can find it here.
SDR Explained for Adults & Parents
Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) is a neurosurgical procedure that reduces spasticity at its source. In cerebral palsy, certain sensory nerves in the spine send excessive signals that keep muscles tight, even when the person is trying to relax or move freely.
During SDR, a neurosurgeon:
Identifies the specific sensory nerve rootlets causing the abnormal reflex loops
Selectively cuts only the rootlets that consistently produce spastic responses
Preserves the healthy, functional ones
The result is a permanent reduction in spasticity, which can lead to:
smoother, more efficient walking
improved balance and endurance
less pain and fatigue
muscles that finally respond to strengthening
greater independence and long‑term mobility
SDR doesn’t correct contractures or orthopedic issues by itself, but it removes the neurological barrier that makes movement so difficult. With the right rehabilitation and support, it can be a powerful turning point in someone’s CP journey
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