Abstract
Objective
To describe the relationship between activity level and cardiovascular risk measures
as well as describe general activity patterns of adults with cerebral palsy.
Design
Cross‐sectional.
Setting
Academic outpatient rehabilitation clinic.
Participants
Adults with cerebral palsy (N=47).
Interventions
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measures
Gross Motor Functional Classification System (GMFCS) level was determined by validated
self‐report questionnaire. Activity (daily step count, walk time, sitting time, standing
time, and transitional movements) over 6 days recorded using an activPAL. Weight,
body mass index (BMI), and waist-to-hip ratio were measured. Bivariate relationships
between anthropomorphic and activity measures were assessed.
Results
Thirty-eight participants completed all measurements. Nine were excluded because of
incomplete activPAL data. The median age was 28.50 years (interquartile range [IQR]=24.25-47.00),
range 18-77 years. Participants’ GMFCS levels were I: 13%; II: 16%; III: 21%; IV:
34%; and V: 16%. Median steps/day for GMFCS I/II participants were 5258.3 (IQR=3606.8-6634.7),
and median steps/day were 1681.3 (IQR=657.2-2751.8) and 30.0 (IQR=6.8-54.2) for GMFCS
level III and IV/V participants, respectively. Significantly greater steps/day were
found for GMFCS I/II or III participants compared to those GMFCS IV/V (P<.001 and P=.0074, respectively). In addition, 60.5% of the subjects had a BMI in the normal
range, 10.5% were obese, 23.6% were overweight, and 5.3% were underweight. For subjects
with GMFCS I/II, the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient for time standing and
waist circumference was −0.73 (0.01). GMFCS III and GMFCS IV/V participants had respective
correlations of −0.16 (0.71) and −0.01 (0.98). For subjects with GMFCS I/II, the Spearman's
rank correlation coefficient for standing time and BMI was −0.55 (P=.08). For the GMFCS III and GMFCS IV/V groups the respective correlations were −0.19
(0.67) and 0.00 (1.00).
Conclusions
Subjects with GMFCS level I or II who engaged in more activity tended to have more
favorable anthropometric profiles. Subjects with GMFCS level III, IV, or V did not
have a similar trend. Our findings suggest factors beyond activity patterns affect
anthropometrics to a greater degree in those with higher GMFCS levels.
Keywords
List of abbreviations:
CP (cerebral palsy), CV (cardiovascular), BMI (body mass index), GMFCS (Gross Motor Function Classification System), HC (hip circumference), ICD-9 (International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition), ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition), IQR (interquartile range), WC (waist circumference)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 21, 2022
Accepted:
January 12,
2022
Received in revised form:
January 6,
2022
Received:
July 8,
2021
Footnotes
Presented at the 2019 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Annual Assembly, November 14-17, San Antonio, Texas.
Supported by Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, formerly known as the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.
Disclosures: none.
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine.
