ERIC Number: EJ961687
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-May
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0012-1622
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Ambulatory Activity of Children with Cerebral Palsy: Which Characteristics Are Important?
van Wely, Leontien; Becher, Jules G.; Balemans, Astrid C. J.; Dallmeijer, Annet J.
Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, v54 n5 p436-442 May 2012
Aim: To assess ambulatory activity of children with cerebral palsy (CP), aged 7 to 13 years, and identify associated characteristics. Method: Sixty-two children with spastic CP (39 males, 23 females; mean age 10y 1mo, SD 1y 8mo; age range 7-13y), classified as Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I to III, participated. Ambulatory activity was measured during 1 week with a StepWatch activity monitor as steps per day, and time spent at medium and high step rates. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed following a backward selection procedure until only independent variables with p less than 0.05 remained in the model. Ambulatory activity outcome parameters served as dependent variables, and disease, personal, and environmental characteristics as independent variables. Ambulatory activity was corrected for body height. Results: Children took more steps during school days (5169 steps, SD 1641) than during weekend days (4158 steps, SD 2048; p less than 0.001). Higher GMFCS level, bilateral CP, and higher age were associated with lower ambulatory activity on school days (R[superscript 2] ranged from 43-53%), whereas bilateral CP, higher age, and no sport club participation were associated with lower ambulatory activity in the weekend (R[superscript 2] ranged from 21-42%). Correcting for body height decreased the association with age. Interpretation: Interventions should focus at increasing physical activity at the weekend for children with bilateral spastic CP.
Descriptors: Children, Cerebral Palsy, Physical Activity Level, Body Height, Age Differences, Individual Characteristics
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
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