title: Physical activity and its correlates in children and adolescents post-liver transplant.
abstract: The health benefits of PA are well established for healthy and chronically ill children. This study objectively measures physical fitness and PA levels in children PLT and explores potential correlates and perceived barriers impacting their PA. A total of 23 children (16 females, mean 14.01 ± 2.49 yrs) >1 yr PLT were assessed for peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak), muscle strength, endurance, and flexibility. MVPA and steps/day were determined with accelerometry. Additionally, SE, perceived fatigue, and barriers and benefits of PA were examined. VO2 peak (mean 33. 2 ± 7.61 mL/kg/min; 77.0 ± 15.6% predicted) and PA (average 6841 ± 2299 steps/day) were below healthy norms. MVPA (31.6 ± 16.1 min/day) was lower than national guidelines. Six participants (30%) attained criterion standards for abdominal strength and one participant (5%) for push-ups. Fatigue and SE were lower than reported levels in healthy children. A commonly perceived barrier to PA was "I am tired." A positive correlation was shown between SE and MVPA (r = 0.57, p = 0.007), SE and fatigue (r = 0.54, p = 0.01), and PELD score and fatigue (r = 0.66, p = 0.007). Children PLT demonstrate below normal levels of PA and aerobic capacity. SE is a modifiable correlate of their PA. Further investigation of the impact of PA correlates can guide the development of future innovative PA intervention strategies in children PLT.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: So
authors.affiliation: Physiology and Experimental Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.|Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Jane E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Schneiderman
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Services, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.affiliation: Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.|Institute of Health Policy and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stephens
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005221:Fatigue; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory; D009043:Motor Activity; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020377:Self Efficacy
keywords: accelerometry; child; liver transplant; physical activity