Measurement of physical activity in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: a scoping review protocol

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Rehabilitation
• Movement Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) frequently exhibit insufficient physical activity, impacting overall health.
• Accurate measurement of physical activity and sedentary behavior is vital for managing CP.
• There is a need for validated subjective instruments to assess daily activity in young individuals with CP.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and map subjective instruments designed for measuring physical activity and sedentary behavior.
• To focus on instruments developed for children and adolescents (birth to 18 years) diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
• To distinguish between instruments measuring physical activity performance and capability.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review methodology based on JBI guidelines.
• Comprehensive database searches including MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Embase, PEDro, and Cochrane.
• Inclusion of studies involving individuals with CP (Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I-V) aged 0-18 years.

Main Results:

• The review will systematically map existing subjective instruments for assessing physical activity and sedentary behavior in pediatric CP populations.
• It will provide an overview of instruments differentiating between physical activity performance and capability.
• Findings will highlight instruments suitable for quality registers and intervention evaluation.

Conclusions:

• Subjective instruments are essential for monitoring physical activity and sedentary behavior in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.
• This review will inform the selection of appropriate tools for research and clinical practice.
• Identifying suitable instruments can aid in evaluating interventions and improving health outcomes for this population.