Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2025
Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training
Published on: July 27, 2022
Physical activity and sedentary behavior among ambulatory children with cerebral palsy using accelerometer: a
Njoud Aydhah Alamoudi1, Maha F Algabbani1, Muhammad O Al-Heizan1
1Department of Health Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) engage in more sedentary behavior and light physical activity than typically developing peers. Interventions should consider gender and physical characteristics to promote activity in children with CP.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Sports Science
Background:
- Physical activity (PA) is crucial for child development.
- Children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) often exhibit sedentary behavior, linked to health complications.
- Objective data on PA and sedentary behavior (SB) in children with CP is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To objectively compare PA and SB levels in children with and without CP.
- To identify factors correlating with PA, SB, and daily step count in children with CP.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study design.
- Objective measurement of PA and SB using wrist-worn accelerometers over seven consecutive days.
- Inclusion of 85 children aged 6-12 years (41 with CP, 44 typically developing).
Main Results:
- Children with CP spent significantly more time in SB and Light PA (LPA) compared to typically developing (TD) children.
- No significant differences in Moderate PA (MPA) or step count were observed between groups.
- Age, height, and weight positively correlated with SB in children with CP; higher weight correlated with lower step counts.
Conclusions:
- Children with CP demonstrate higher levels of SB and LPA than their TD peers.
- Targeted strategies are necessary to increase PA and decrease SB in children with CP.
- Considering gender and anthropometric measures is vital for enhancing quality of life in children with CP.
Background And Objective:
Physical activity (PA) is paramount for childhood development and growth. However, children diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy (CP) were often considered sedentary, and their physical inactivity was associated with adverse health conditions and complications. Therefore, this study aimed to objectively describe and compare the PA levels and SB levels of children with and without CP of the same age group. It also studied the factors correlating with PA, SB, and step count per day in children with CP.
Subjects And Methods:
A cross-sectional study using a wrist-worn accelerometer was conducted. PA and SB were measured over seven consecutive days.
Results:
Eighty-five children aged 6-12 years, consisting of 41 children with CP and 44 TD children, participated in this study with a mean age of 9.18 ± 1.95 and 8.45 ± 1.78 years, respectively. According to the gross functional measures, 53.6% of children with CP were classified as first classification. A significant amount of time was spent in SB and Light PA (LPA) by children with CP compared to TD children, and no significant differences were observed in moderate PA (MPA) or step count. Gender mainly affected MPA as girls spent more time in MPA than boys. The age, height, and weight of children with CP correlate significantly with SB. As children's age, height, and weight increase, SB increases. Additionally, children with higher weights have lower step counts per day.
Conclusion:
This study showed that children with CP spend more time in LPA and SB than typically developed children. Therefore, concerted efforts are needed to encourage physical activity and reduce the sedentary lifestyle, to take into account the gender and anthropometric measures of children to enhance the quality of life among children with CP, and to consider gender and anthropometric measures of the children.
