The Decline of Physical Activity with Age in School-Aged Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Single-Center...

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Maintaining physical activity is vital for children with cerebral palsy (CP).
• Understanding age-related changes in physical activity and fitness is essential for this population.
• The relationship between habitual physical activity (HPA) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in children with CP requires further clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if age predicts HPA or CRF in school-aged children with CP.
• To examine the association between HPA and CRF in this cohort.
• To identify factors influencing physical activity levels in children with CP.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 39 school-aged children with CP (mean age 7.44 years).
• Habitual physical activity (HPA) measured using accelerometers for five days.
• Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) assessed via modified Naughton protocol on a treadmill.
• Statistical analyses included linear regression and correlation.

Main Results:

• Age was positively associated with sedentary physical activity (%SPA).
• Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (%MVPA) showed a negative correlation with resting heart rate (HR).
• Activity counts were negatively correlated with resting HR, indicating potential fitness benefits.
• A significant negative association was found between HPA and age.

Conclusions:

• Habitual physical activity (HPA) tends to decrease with age in school-aged children with cerebral palsy (CP).
• Cardiorespiratory fitness indicators like resting heart rate are associated with physical activity levels.
• There is a need for enhanced recreational programs to support physical activity in children with CP across all age groups.