Description of exercise participation of adolescents with cerebral palsy across a 4-year period.
OBJECTIVE
The purposes of this study were to describe (1) the types of exercise participation of adolescents with cerebral palsy; (2) the weekly duration of stretching, strengthening, and cardiovascular exercise; (3) how the level of activity compares with national health guidelines; and (4) the change in participation over 4 years.


METHODS
Participants included 126 males and 104 females (mean age = 14.7 years, SD = 1.7 years) who reported physical activities in the previous week. Analyses included frequency counts and proportions, stacked bar graphs, and 2-way analyses of variance of exercise participation by Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and sex.


RESULTS
A significant main effect of GMFCS level was detected for light and moderate exercise. A significant interaction of GMFCS level and sex was found for stretching; females stretched more. An average of 9.4% and 11.4% of our sample participated in weekly levels of moderate and vigorous exercise, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Pediatric physical therapists should promote increased exercise participation rates among youths with cerebral palsy.
Brunton
Laura K
LK
School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
Bartlett
Doreen J
DJ
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002170:Canada; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009043:Motor Activity; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome