title: Objectively assessed physical activity and sedentary behaviour does not differ between children and adolescents with and without a congenital heart defect: a pilot examination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To objectively evaluate and describe physical activity levels in children with a stable congenital heart defect and compare those levels with children who do not have a congenital heart defect.
  
  
  METHODS
  We matched 21 pairs of children for gender and grade in school and gave them an accelerometer-based motion sensor to wear for 7 consecutive days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Physical activity levels did not differ between children with and without a congenital heart defect. During the 7 days of monitoring, children in this study spent most of their time in sedentary behaviours, that is, 6.7 hours of the 13 monitored hours, 54 minutes in moderate-intensity physical activity, and 12 minutes in vigorous-intensity physical activity. Less than one-fifth of all participants, with or without a congenital heart defect, accumulated sufficient physical activity to meet current physical activity recommendations for children and adolescents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children with a stable congenital heart defect have activity behaviours that are similar to children without a congenital heart defect. Habitual physical activity in children with a congenital heart defect should be encouraged early on in life to develop strong physical activity habits that will hopefully follow them across their lifespan.
authors: Physical Activity and Health Research Laboratory, Department of Human Movement Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA.
authors: Lauren A
authors: LA
authors: Ewalt
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Danduran
authors: Scott J
authors: SJ
authors: Strath
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: Moerchen
authors: Ann M
authors: AM
authors: Swartz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010865:Pilot Projects; D057185:Sedentary Behavior