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Physical activity measurement instruments for children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review
Catherine M Capio1, Cindy H P Sit, Bruce Abernethy
1Institute of Human Performance, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. ccapio08@hku.hk
Insights
This review found few validated physical activity instruments for children with cerebral palsy (CP). Combining subjective and objective measures is recommended for better understanding of activity in children with CP.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Children with cerebral palsy (CP) often have altered physical activity patterns.
- Accurate measurement of physical activity is crucial for understanding health outcomes and designing interventions in children with CP.
- Existing measurement tools may not be adequately validated for this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review physical activity measurement instruments used in field-based studies involving children with CP.
- To identify instruments with established reliability and validity for this population.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature searches across multiple databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Cochrane, PEDro).
- Inclusion criteria: instruments for ages 0-18, measuring physical activity, used in field studies with children with CP.
- Review of seven identified instruments: ASKp, Canada Fitness Survey, CAPE/PAC, Compendium of Physical Activities, PAQ-A, StepWatch, Uptimer.
Main Results:
- Instruments measure physical activity frequency, mode, domain, and duration.
- Activities Scale for Kids - Performance version (ASKp) and Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment/Preferences for Activities of Children (CAPE/PAC) show established reliability and validity for children with physical disabilities.
- No instrument reliably measures intensity in free-living conditions for children with CP.
Conclusions:
- Further research is needed to validate physical activity measurement tools for children with CP.
- Combining subjective and objective measurement methods is recommended for a comprehensive understanding of physical activity participation.
- Improved measurement tools are essential for effective intervention strategies and research in pediatric CP.
Aim:
this paper is a systematic review of physical activity measurement instruments for field-based studies involving children with cerebral palsy (CP).
Method:
database searches using PubMed Central, MEDLINE, CINAHL Plus, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and PEDro located 12 research papers, identifying seven instruments that met the inclusion criteria of (1) having been developed for children aged 0 to 18 years, (2) having been used to evaluate a physical activity dimension, and (3) having been used in a field-based study involving children with CP. The instruments reviewed were the Activities Scale for Kids - Performance version (ASKp), the Canada Fitness Survey, the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment/Preferences for Activities of Children (CAPE/PAC), the Compendium of Physical Activities, the Physical Activity Questionnaire - Adolescents (PAQ-A), StepWatch, and the Uptimer. Second-round searches yielded 11 more papers, providing reliability and validity evidence for the instruments.
Results:
the instruments measure physical activity frequency, mode, domain, and duration. Although most instruments demonstrated adequate reliability and validity, only the ASKp and CAPE/PAC have established reliability and validity for children with physical disabilities; the Uptimer has established concurrent validity. No instrument measuring intensity in free-living has been validated or found reliable for children with CP.
Interpretation:
the findings suggest that further studies are needed to examine the methodological properties of physical activity measurement in children with CP. Combining subjective and objective instruments is recommended to achieve better understanding of physical activity participation.
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