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Ambulatory Physical Activity Performance in Youth With Cerebral Palsy and Youth Who Are Developing Typically

KF Bjornson, PT, PhD, PCS, was a NINDS Pre-doctoral Fellow, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash, at the time of the study. Currently, she is Research Scientist, Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, W7706, 4800 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105 (USA)
B Belza, PhD, RN, is Professor, Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems, School of Nursing, University of Washington
D Kartin, PT, PhD, is Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington
R Logsdon, PhD, is Research Associate Professor, Department of Psychosocial & Community Health, School of Nursing, University of Washington
JF McLaughlin, MD, is Professor of Pediatrics and Research Affliate, Center on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington

Address all correspondence to Dr Bjornson at: kristie.bjornson{at}seattlechildrens.org

Background and Purpose: Assessment of walking activity in youth with cerebral palsy (CP) has traditionally been "capacity-based." The purpose of this study was to describe the day-to-day ambulatory activity "performance" of youth with CP compared with youth who were developing typically.

Subjects: Eighty-one youth with CP, aged 10 to 13 years, who were categorized as being in Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I to III and 30 age-matched youth who were developing typically were recruited.

Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, participants wore the StepWatch monitor for 7 days while documenting average daily total step counts, percentage of time they were active, ratio of medium to low activity levels, and percentage of time at high activity levels.

Results: The youth with CP demonstrated significantly lower levels of all outcomes than the comparison group.

Discussion and Conclusion: Daily walking activity and variability decreased as functional walking level (GMFCS level) decreased. Ambulatory activity performance within the context of the daily life for youth with CP appears valid and feasible as an outcome for mobility interventions in CP.

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