54128
document
Ambulatory activity of children with cerebral palsy : which characteristics are important ? 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 < 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 < 0.001 ) . Higher GMFCS level , bilateral CP , and higher age were associated with lower ambulatory activity on school days ( R ( 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 ( 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 .
54129
Intervention_Physical
Ambulatory activity
54130
Intervention_Physical
ambulatory activity
54131
Outcome_Physical
Ambulatory activity
54132
Outcome_Physical
ambulatory activity