title: Leisure-Time Physical Activity in adults with Cerebral Palsy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cerebral Palsy (CP) is becoming more prevalent in the adult population, but there is limited information available regarding their Leisure-Time Physical Activity (LTPA).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the self-reported frequency and LTPA participation patterns in adults with CP, compared to the Canadian general population (CGP).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional, follow-up-survey of a cohort of 145 persons with CP. The primary outcome was the level of participation in LTPA. Questions were also posed about the motivations and self-reported barriers to LTPA participation. The survey results were compared to CGP estimates from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-four participants completed the survey, and 90% reported participation in at least one LTPA per week. On average, they reported participating in LTPA 7.3 ± 5.7 times/week. They also reported participating in an average of 4.1 ± 2.4 different types of LTPA. Walking, home-exercise, and swimming were the most frequently reported as a primary LTPA in the CP sample. These finding were comparable to those from the CGP. However, adults with CP were more likely to participate in home-exercise than the CGP (p < 0.05). More than 40% reported that the purpose of their LTPA was fitness or body maintenance and 56% indicated an interest in starting new activities. Various barriers were also reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adults with CP frequently participated in LTPA. However, the majority of them are not achieving recommended daily physical activity levels. Also their LTPA habitually focuses on rehabilitative exercises and the diversity of LTPA is limited by several barriers.
authors.affiliation: Evaluating Children's Health Outcomes Research Centre, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Koyo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Usuba
authors.affiliation: School of Human Kinetics, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oddson
authors.affiliation: Evaluating Children's Health Outcomes Research Centre, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada; School of Human Kinetics, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gauthier
authors.affiliation: Evaluating Children's Health Outcomes Research Centre, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada; School of Rural and Northern Health, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada. Electronic address: nyoung@laurentian.ca.
authors.forename: Nancy L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D002547:Cerebral Palsy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D013550:Swimming; D016138:Walking; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adults; Cerebral palsy; General population; Leisure-time physical activity