Daily physical activity of schoolchildren with spastic diplegia and of healthy control subjects.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the differences in daily physical activity between children with spastic diplegia and healthy schoolchildren, to determine whether special physical activity programs are needed in the population with cerebral palsy.


METHODS
Cross-sectional design.


METHODS
Children's rehabilitation center Franciscusoord (day care center) and elementary schools.


METHODS
Children with spastic diplegia (5 boys; mean (+/- SD) age 8.0 +/- 1.4 years; 9 ambulant, 1 wheelchair use) and healthy children (5 boys; mean (+/- SD) age 8.4 +/- 1.0 years).


METHODS
Total daily energy expenditure (TEE) and sleeping metabolic rate (SMR) were measured by the doubly labeled water technique and a respiration chamber. The TEE/SMR ratio was used as an index for the level of daily physical activity.


RESULTS
The TEE/SMR ratio under normal daily conditions in the children with cerebral palsy (mean +/- SD): 1.56 +/- 0.19) was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than in their healthy peers (mean +/- SD: 1.83 +/- 0.23) and was similar to the TEE/SMR ratio in a room-sized chamber.


CONCLUSIONS
Children with spastic diplegia are considerably less active than their healthy peers. We recommend special physical activity programs for these children.
van den Berg-Emons
H J
HJ
Department of Movement Sciences, University of Limburg at Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Saris
W H
WH
de Barbanson
D C
DC
Westerterp
K R
KR
Huson
A
A
van Baak
M A
MA
D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001834:Body Water; D001835:Body Weight; D002151:Calorimetry; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology