Designing Exercise to Improve Bone Health Among Individuals With Cerebral Palsy

Physical Activity in Cerebral Palsy: A Current State Study

This document analyzes a survey conducted in three geographical areas in Spain, focusing on centers for individuals with cerebral palsy (CP). The study aims to determine the adherence rate to recommended physical activity guidelines, assess if there is a decline in interest in physical activity over time, identify the stage at which this decline occurs, and explore potential mechanisms, tools, or strategies to sustain long-term engagement in regular physical activity for this population. The 36-item questionnaire comprises multiple-choice, open-ended, and Likert scale-type questions. Data were collected on physical activity frequency and duration, daily living activities, and demographics. Statistical analysis identified patterns and relationships between variables. Findings reveal that only a 17.6% meets the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations regarding regular physical activity (RPA), decreasing in frequency or number of days a week, (3.7 d/w to 2.9 d/w; p < 0.01) and duration (50.5 min/d to 45.2 min/d; p < 0.001) with age, especially for those with higher Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) mobility levels. Obesity slightly correlates with session duration (ρ = -0.207; p < 0.05), not mobility limitations. Gender has no significant impact on mobility, communication, or physical activity, while age affects variables such as body mass index (BMI) and engagement (p < 0.01). A substantial proportion follows regular physical activities based on health professionals' advice, with interest decreasing with age. To improve adherence, focusing on sports-oriented goals, group sessions, and games is recommended. These findings emphasize the importance of personalized programs, particularly for older individuals and those with greater mobility limitations.

Adults with Cerebral Palsy: Navigating the Complexities of Aging

The goal of this narrative review is to highlight the healthcare challenges faced by adults with cerebral palsy, including the management of long-term motor deficits, difficulty finding clinicians with expertise in these long-term impairments, and scarcity of rehabilitation options. Additionally, this narrative review seeks to examine potential methods for maintaining functional independence, promoting social integration, and community participation. Although the brain lesion that causes the movement disorder is non-progressive, the neurodevelopmental disorder worsens from secondary complications of existing sensory, motor, and cognitive impairments. Therefore, maintaining the continuum of care across one's lifespan is of utmost importance. Advancements in healthcare services over the past decade have resulted in lower mortality rates and increased the average life expectancy of people with cerebral palsy. However, once they transition from adolescence to adulthood, limited federal and community resources, and health care professionals' lack of expertise present significant obstacles to achieving quality healthcare and long-term benefits. This paper highlights the common impairments seen in adults with cerebral palsy. Additionally, it underscores the critical role of long-term healthcare and management to prevent functional decline and enhance quality of life across physical, cognitive, and social domains.

Lifelong Fitness in Ambulatory Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy I: Key Ingredients for Bone and Muscle Health

Physical activity of a sufficient amount and intensity is essential to health and the prevention of a sedentary lifestyle in all children as they transition into adolescence and adulthood. While fostering a fit lifestyle in all children can be challenging, it may be even more so for those with cerebral palsy (CP). Evidence suggests that bone and muscle health can improve with targeted exercise programs for children with CP. Yet, it is not clear how musculoskeletal improvements are sustained into adulthood. In this perspective, we introduce key ingredients and guidelines to promote bone and muscle health in ambulatory children with CP (GMFCS I-III), which could lay the foundation for sustained fitness and musculoskeletal health as they transition from childhood to adolescence and adulthood. First, one must consider crucial characteristics of the skeletal and muscular systems as well as key factors to augment bone and muscle integrity. Second, to build a better foundation, we must consider critical time periods and essential ingredients for programming. Finally, to foster the sustainability of a fit lifestyle, we must encourage commitment and self-initiated action while ensuring the attainment of skill acquisition and function. Thus, the overall objective of this perspective paper is to guide exercise programming and community implementation to truly alter lifelong fitness in persons with CP.

Kindy Moves: the feasibility of an intensive interdisciplinary programme on goal and motor outcomes for preschool-aged children with neurodisabilities requiring daily equipment and physical assistance

OBJECTIVES

To determine the feasibility of an intensive interdisciplinary programme in improving goal and motor outcomes for preschool-aged children with non-progressive neurodisabilities. The primary hypothesis was that the intervention would be feasible.

DESIGN

A single group feasibility study.

SETTING

An Australian paediatric community therapy provider.

PARTICIPANTS

Forty children were recruited. Inclusion criteria were age 2-5 years with a non-progressive neurodisability, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels III-V or equivalent, and goals relating to mobility, communication and upper limb function. Exclusion criteria included orthopaedic surgery in the past 6 months, unstable hip subluxation, uncontrolled seizure disorder or treadmill training in the past month.

INTERVENTION

A goal-directed programme of three 2-hour sessions per week for 4 weeks (24 hours total). This consisted of treadmill and overground walking, communication practice, and upper limb tasks tailored by an interdisciplinary team.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Limited-efficacy measures from preintervention (T1) to postintervention (T2) and 4-week follow-up (T3) included the Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS), Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66) and 10-Metre Walk Test (10MWT). Acceptability, demand, implementation and practicality were also explored.

RESULTS

There were improvements at T2 compared with T1 for all limited-efficacy measures. The GAS improved at T2 (mean difference (MD) 27.7, 95% CI 25.8 to 29.5) as well as COPM performance (MD 3.2, 95% CI 2.8 to 3.6) and satisfaction (MD 3.3, 95% CI 2.8 to 3.8). The GMFM-66 (MD 2.3, 95% CI 1.0 to 3.5) and 10MWT (median difference -2.3, 95% CI -28.8 to 0.0) improved at T2. Almost all improvements were maintained at T3. Other feasibility components were also demonstrated. There were no adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

An intensive interdisciplinary programme is feasible in improving goal and motor outcomes for preschool children with neurodisabilities (GMFCS III-V or equivalent). A randomised controlled trial is warranted to establish efficacy.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ACTRN12619000064101.

5-year fracture risk among children with cerebral palsy

BACKGROUND

Epidemiologic evidence documenting fracture risk as children with cerebral palsy (CP) age throughout growth is lacking to inform on when to implement fracture prevention strategies. The objective was to characterize the 5-year risk of fractures by each year of age among <1-13 year olds with CP and effects by patient-level factors.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study used commercial administrative claims from 01/01/2001 to 12/31/2018 from children <1-13 years old with ≥5 years of insurance enrollment. Fractures were examined during the 5-year follow-up. For the CP cohort, the association between 5-year fracture rate and patient-level factors was assessed using Cox regression.

RESULTS

Children with (n = 5559) vs. without (n = 2.3 million) CP had a higher 5-year fracture risk at the vertebral column, hip, and lower extremities at almost each year of age, but lower 5-year fracture risk at the upper extremities after 6 years old (all P < 0.05). Among children with CP, the 5-year fracture rate was elevated for co-occurring neurological conditions and non-ambulatory status at the vertebral column, hip, and lower extremities (hazard ratio [HR] range, 1.44-2.39), and higher for males at the upper extremities (HR = 1.29) (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides novel epidemiologic evidence of 5-year fracture risk for each year of age for children with CP.

IMPACT

This study provides novel epidemiologic evidence of 5-year fracture risk for each year of age across important developmental stages for children with vs. without cerebral palsy (CP). Children with vs. without CP were more likely to fracture at the vertebral column, hip, lower extremities, and humerus and less likely to fracture at the forearm and hands. The age-related 5-year fracture risk was associated with clinically relevant patient-level factors, but in different ways by fracture region. Study findings may be used to enhance clinical detection of at-risk children and strategize when to implement fracture prevention efforts for children with CP.

Supported-standing interventions for children and young adults with non-ambulant cerebral palsy: A scoping review

AIM

To describe the evidence, outcomes, and lived experience of supported standing for children and young adults with cerebral palsy aged 25 years or younger, classified in Gross Motor Function Classification System levels IV and V.

METHOD

This scoping review included searches in eight electronic databases and manual searching from database inception to May 2020 and updated on 21st February 2022. Two of three reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts and extracted and appraised data. Methodological quality and risk of bias were appraised using tools appropriate to study type. Content analysis and frequency effect sizes were calculated for qualitative and descriptive evidence.

RESULTS

From 126 full-text references, 59 citations (one study was reported over two citations) were included: 16 systematic reviews, 17 intervention studies reporting over 18 citations, eight analytical cross-sectional studies, five descriptive cross-sectional/survey studies, five qualitative studies, and one mixed-methods study were identified, along with six clinical guidelines. Maintenance of bone mineral density and contracture prevention outcomes were supported by the most experimental studies and evidence syntheses, while evidence supporting other outcomes was primarily quasi-experimental or descriptive. Qualitative evidence suggests that programmes are influenced by attitudes, device, child, and environmental factors.

INTERPRETATION

Individualized assessment and prescription are essential to match personal and environmental needs. Although experimental evidence is limited due to many factors, lived-experience and cohort data suggest that successful integration of standing programmes into age-appropriate and meaningful activities may enhance function, participation, and overall health.

Characteristics of Interventions to Improve Bone Health in Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

A systematic review evaluated exercise parameters and ages that produced the most improvement in bone among individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) ages 3 to 21 years.

METHODS

PubMed, Scopus, Ebscohost, and Web of Science identified potential articles. Covidence was used to identify eligible citations and assess bias. The osteogenic index (OI) was used to evaluate intervention parameters.

RESULTS

The database search identified 312 citations. Twelve full-text articles were included. A 1-hour calisthenic exercise program performed 2 to 3 times a week for 8 months targeting each body region had the highest effect size and a substantial OI. Most of the interventions reviewed had low OIs. Activities of longer duration and greater intensity had greater OIs and prepubertal age-enhanced treatment effects.

CONCLUSION

Bone interventions for individuals with CP have low OIs, and principles of mechanostat theory should be applied to exercise dosing.

Scootering for Children and Youth Is More Than Fun: Exploration of a Feasible Approach to Improve Function and Fitness

PURPOSE

Describe scootering as a physical therapy intervention for children/adolescents with mobility limitations within the "F-Words for Child Development" (fitness, function, family, friends, fun, and future) and through motion analysis.

METHODS

Perspectives of scootering were explored using the holistic "F-words for Child Development" recommendations for pediatric rehabilitation and through 3-dimensional instrumented motion analysis of children/adolescents with cerebral palsy and children/adolescents with typical development.

RESULTS

Scootering was consistent with the F-words tenets for rehabilitative best practice. Many of the motion characteristics of scootering reflected desirable exercise and gait attributes relevant to children/adolescents with cerebral palsy.

CONCLUSIONS

Scootering is a feasible, functional, and fun activity that has the potential to address many aspects of fitness, function, and gait; meet the needs of families; and provide opportunities for interaction with friends. It is a physical therapy intervention that has the potential to contribute to future health and well-being of children with disabilities.

VIDEO ABSTRACT

For more insights from the authors, see Supplemental Digital Content 1, available at: http://links.lww.com/PPT/A331.

A Study on Physical Exercise and General Mobility in People with Cerebral Palsy: Health through Costless Routines

Sedentary behavior (SB) is a common problem that may produce health issues in people with cerebral palsy (CP). When added to a progressive reduction in motor functions over time, SB can lead to higher percentages of body fat, muscle stiffness and associated health issues in this population. Regular physical activity (RPA) may prevent the loss of motor skills and reduce health risks. In this work, we analyzed data collected from 40 people (20 children and teenagers, and 20 adults) who attend two specialist centers in Seville to obtain an up-to-date picture regarding the practice of RPA in people with CP. Roughly 60% of the participants showed mostly mid/severe mobility difficulties, while 38% also had communicative issues. Most of the participants performed light-intensity physical activity (PA) at least once or twice a week and, in the majority of cases, had a neutral or positive attitude to exercising. In the Asociación Sevillana de Parálisis Cerebral (ASPACE) sample test, the higher the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), the higher the percentage of negative responses to doing exercise. Conversely, in the Centro Específico de Educación Especial Mercedes Sanromá (CEEEMS), people likes PA but slightly higher ratios of positive responses were found at Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels V and II, agreeing with the higher personal engagement of people at those levels. We have also performed a literature review regarding RPA in CP and the use of low-cost equipment. As a conclusion, we found that RPA produces enormous benefits for health and motor functions, whatever its intensity and duration. Costless activities such as walking, running or playing sports; exercises requiring low-cost equipment such as elastic bands, certain smartwatches or video-games; or therapies with animals, among many others, have all demonstrated their suitability for such a purpose.