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Health-related physical fitness for children with cerebral palsy
Désirée B Maltais1, Lesley Wiart2, Eileen Fowler3
1Department of Rehabilitation, Laval University, and Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada Desiree.Maltais@rea.ulaval.ca.
Insights
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have low physical activity, increasing chronic disease risk. All children with CP should participate in aerobic, anaerobic, and muscle-strengthening activities as able.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Physical Therapy
- Public Health
Background:
- Low physical activity is a global health issue affecting all children.
- Children with cerebral palsy (CP) exhibit lower physical activity levels than typically developing peers.
- Reduced physical activity in children with CP is linked to poor health-related physical fitness and increased chronic disease risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current resources for physical fitness testing and activity training in children with CP.
- To emphasize the importance of physical activity for all children with CP, regardless of ambulatory status.
- To identify gaps in research regarding fitness evaluation and behavioral change in nonambulatory children with CP.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent research on physical fitness testing and physical activity training in children with CP.
- Analysis of existing data, noting a focus on ambulatory populations.
- Synthesis of evidence to provide recommendations for clinical practice.
Main Results:
- Therapists now have resources for physical fitness testing and activity training for children with CP.
- Most available data pertains to ambulatory children with CP.
- Evidence supports the recommendation for all children with CP to engage in varied physical activities.
Conclusions:
- All children with cerebral palsy should be encouraged to participate in aerobic, anaerobic, and muscle-strengthening activities to their ability.
- Further research is needed to develop effective methods for assessing health-related physical fitness in nonambulatory children with CP.
- Long-term strategies are required to promote sustained physical activity behavior in all children with CP.
Abstract:
Low levels of physical activity are a global health concern for all children. Children with cerebral palsy have even lower physical activity levels than their typically developing peers. Low levels of physical activity, and thus an increased risk for related chronic diseases, are associated with deficits in health-related physical fitness. Recent research has provided therapists with the resources to effectively perform physical fitness testing and physical activity training in clinical settings with children who have cerebral palsy, although most testing and training data to date pertains to those who walk. Nevertheless, on the basis of the present evidence, all children with cerebral palsy should engage, to the extent they are able, in aerobic, anaerobic, and muscle-strengthening activities. Future research is required to determine the best ways to evaluate health-related physical fitness in nonambulatory children with cerebral palsy and foster long-term changes in physical activity behavior in all children with this condition.
