Disclosures: Stephen L. Leb: No financial relationships or conflicts of interest  

Objective: To determine whether more daily physical activity is associated with favorable clinical anthropomorphic measures in adults with cerebral palsy.

Design: Cross-Sectional

Setting: Academic Outpatient Rehabilitation Clinic.

Participants: 47 adults with cerebral palsy (CP).

Interventions: None

Main Outcome Measures: Gross motor functional classification system (GMFCS) was determined by validated self-report questionnaire. Activity (average daily steps, sitting time, standing time, and transitional movements) over 6 days was recorded using the ActivPal. Weight, BMI, waist, and hip circumference were measured. Waist to hip ratio (WHR) was calculated.

Results: 38 subjects completed all measurements and were included in the analyses. The mean age was 36 years (range of 18-77). GMFCS of participants was I (13%), II (16%), III (21%), IV (34%), and V (16%), with respective average daily step counts of 6237, 4905, 2064, 93, and 13. GMFCS I/ II average BMI was 23. GMFC III average BMI was 25. GMFCS of IV/V average BMI was 24. For subjects with GMFCS I/II, the Pearson correlation coefficient for sitting time and weight was 0.52 (P-value= .1); for standing time and weight it was 0.47 (P= .14). For GMFCS III, correlation coefficient for transitional movements with weight was 0.33 (P=.4) and with WHR was 0.66 (P=.07). Among subjects GMFCS IV/ V, the correlation between step time with weight and BMI was significant (correlation coefficient 0.51, P=.03) and (0.49, 0.03), respectively.

Conclusions: Step counts decreased with increasing GMFCS. Individuals GMFCS level I who engaged in more activity trended to be less overweight; individuals GMFCS III did not have similar associations. Despite low step counts, GMFCS V adults had a low rate of obesity. Our findings suggest factors beyond activity contribute to obesity to a greater degree in those with higher GMFC levels. Additional factors to consider include those affecting weight measures (low bone mineral density), muscle activity (hypertonia and dyskinesias), and independence in food access.

Level of Evidence: Level IV

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PM&R Meeting Abstracts - https://pmrjabstracts.org/abstract/impact-of-activity-on-anthropomorphic-measures-for-adults-with-cerebral-palsy/