Article

OBJECTIVE: To document the influence of age on step activity patterns in children
with cerebral palsy (CP) and typically developing (TD) children. DESIGN: Cross-sectional.
SETTING: All step activity data were collected in free-living
environments. PARTICIPANTS: Children with CP (n=27; age, 4-18y; 22 boys, 5 girls;
Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I and II) and 27 age- and
sex-matched TD children were recruited through public advertisements and contacts
with local clinicians. CP and TD participants were stratified into younger (<10y;
n=14) and older (10-18y; n=13) age groups. INTERVENTION: Daily step activity was
monitored using a step activity monitor that was individually programmed to
account for the gait characteristics of each participant. Step activity data were
collected in 1-minute epochs during waking hours on 3 weekdays and 1 weekend day.
Stored data were analyzed to yield average values of daily step activity,
percentage of inactive time (0 steps) over the entire day, and percentage of
total daily active time spent in low step activity (1-15 steps/min), medium step
activity (16-40 steps/min), and high step activity (>40 steps/min). MAIN OUTCOME
MEASURES: Daily step activity, percentage of inactive time, and percentage of
active time spent in low-, moderate-, and high-intensity step activity. RESULTS:
A significant (P<.05) interaction was observed between age (younger, older) and
condition (CP, TD) for daily step activity, percentage of inactive time, and
percentage of active time spent in low- and high-intensity step activity. The
main effect of age was significant for each physical activity measure except for
relative high-intensity step activity, and the main effect of condition was
significant for all physical activity measures. Follow-up analyses (P<.025)
revealed that older children with CP took fewer daily steps and displayed higher
relative levels of inactivity and low-intensity activity and lower relative
levels of high-intensity activity compared with older TD children. Older children
with CP also exhibited lower daily step activity, demonstrated higher relative
levels of inactivity and low-intensity activity, and displayed lower relative
levels of moderate-intensity activity compared with younger children with CP.
CONCLUSIONS: Compared with younger children with CP and age- and sex-matched TD
youth, older youth with CP generally displayed step activity patterns typified by
lower levels of physical activity and a greater degree of inactivity. These
findings highlight the need to provide multiple opportunities for adolescents
with CP to engage in a variety of physical activities that are appropriate to
their needs, abilities, and preferences and that can aid in maintaining
functional mobility, health, and quality of life.
CI - Copyright (c) 2010 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS