Health-related physical fitness of ambulatory adolescents and young adults with spastic cerebral palsy.
OBJECTIVE
To describe in detail the health-related physical fitness of adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy, compared with able-bodied references, and to assess differences related to Gross Motor Functioning Classification System (GMFCS) level and distribution of cerebral palsy.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
Fifty ambulatory persons with spastic cerebral palsy, GMFCS level I or II, aged 16-24 years.


METHODS
Physical fitness measures were: (i) cardiopulmonary fitness by maximal cycle ergometry, (ii) muscle strength, (iii) body mass index and waist circumference, (iv) skin-folds, and (v) lipid profile.


RESULTS
Regression analyses, corrected for age and gender, showed that persons with bilateral cerebral palsy had lower cardiopulmonary fitness and lower hip abduction muscle strength than those with unilateral cerebral palsy. Comparisons between persons with GMFCS levels I and II showed a difference only in peak power during cycle ergometry. Cardiopulmonary fitness, hip flexion and knee extension strength were considerably lower (< 75%) in persons with cerebral palsy than reference values.


CONCLUSIONS
The distribution of cerebral palsy affects fitness more than GMFCS level does. Furthermore, adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy have reduced health-related physical fitness compared with able-bodied persons. This stage of life has a strong influence on adult lifestyle, thus it is an important period for intervention.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Physical Therapy, Erasmus Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands . c.nooijen@erasmusmc.nl.
Carla
C
Nooijen
Jorrit
J
Slaman
Wilma
W
van der Slot
Henk
H
Stam
Marij
M
Roebroeck
Rita
R
van den Berg-Emons
D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012016:Reference Values; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult