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Promotion of Physical Fitness and Prevention of Secondary Conditions for Children With Cerebral Palsy: Section on Pediatrics Research Summit Proceedings

EG Fowler, PT, PhD, is Associate Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California at Los Angeles, and Faculty, Tarjan Center at UCLA, 22-70 Rehabilitation Center, 1000 Veteran Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1795 (USA)
THA Kolobe, PT, PhD, is Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Science, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Okla
DL Damiano, PT, PhD, is Research Associate Professor of Neurology and Director, Shared Movement Assessment Center, Washington University, St Louis, Mo
DE Thorpe, PT, PhD, PCS, is Associate Professor, Division of Physical Therapy, Center for Human Movement Science, Department of Allied Health Sciences, and Clinical Scientist, Center for Development and Learning, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
DW Morgan, PhD, is Professor, Department of Health and Human Performance, and Director, Center for Physical Activity and Health in Youth, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tenn
JE Brunstrom, MD, is Assistant Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
WJ Coster, OT, PhD, is Associate Professor and Director, Department of Occupational Therapy, and Director, Programs in Occupational Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Mass
RC Henderson, MD, PhD, is Professor of Orthopaedics and Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
KH Pitetti, PhD, is Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kan
JH Rimmer, PhD, is Professor, Department of Disability and Human Development & Movement Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Director, Center on Health Promotion Research for Persons With Disabilities, Director, National Center on Physical Activity and Disability, and Director, Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Recreational Technologies and Exercise Physiology Benefiting Persons With Disabilities, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Ill
J Rose, PT, PhD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif, and Director, Motion & Gait Analysis Laboratory, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, Calif
RD Stevenson, MD, is Professor of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va
Section on Pediatrics Research Summit Participants and Section on Pediatrics Research Committee Task Force (see Appendixes for participants and member sites and investigators on pages 1513–1514).

Address all correspondence to Dr Fowler at: efowler{at}mednet.ucla.edu

Inadequate physical fitness is a major problem affecting the function and health of children with cerebral palsy (CP). Lack of optimal physical activity may contribute to the development of secondary conditions associated with CP such as chronic pain, fatigue, and osteoporosis. The purpose of this article is to highlight the content and recommendations of a Pediatrics Research Summit developed to foster collaborative research in this area. Two components of physical fitness—muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness—were emphasized. Although there is evidence to support the use of physical fitness interventions, there are many gaps in our current knowledge. Additional research of higher quality and rigor is needed in order to make definitive recommendations regarding the mode, intensity, frequency, and duration of exercise. Outcome measurements have focused on the body functions and structures level of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), and much less is known about effects at the activities and participation levels. Additionally, the influence of nutritional and growth factors on physical fitness has not been studied in this population, in which poor growth and skeletal fragility have been identified as serious health issues. Current intervention protocols and outcome measurements were critically evaluated, and recommendations were made for future research.