Physical activity, sedentary time and nutritional status in Brazilian children with cerebral palsy

Abstract Objective: This study had the purpose investigate the physical activity (PA) and sedentary time profile of children with cerebral palsy and its association with body composition. Methods: A cross-sectional study evaluated 53 children, between 2 and 10 years old, enrolled in three health services Recife-city, northeast of Brazil. Sedentary and PA were measured for a week using the ActiGraph GTX3 accelerometer. Body composition was assessed by anthropometry and an electrical bioimpedance device. Results: Time on PA was one hour longer among the mild/moderate CP compared to severe ones, but, sedentary time is similar. Dyskinetic children spent more time in PA, but also in sedentary activities (15.5 hours a day) than spastic ones (12.8). Stunting occurred in 15 (30%) of the sample, all children with stunting had severe impairment. Underweight occurred in 25% of the severe group and 11.8% in the mild/moderate group. Overweight affected 3% of the sample; no overweight children were in the severe group. Body fat% was inversely related to time spent in moderate to vigorous PA. Conclusions: Children with CP spend more than a half of their daily time in sedentary activity. In contrast, children with mild to moderate CP spent twice as much time in moderate to vigorous PA and had a tendency (p = 0.07) to spend 50% more time in light PA. Moreover, time spent on moderate to vigorous activity was inversely related to fat mass.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Arruda,Raíne Costa Borba Firmino de, Tassitano,Rafael Miranda, Brito,Anísio Luís da Silva, Martins,Olga Sophia de Sousa, Cabral,Poliana Coelho, Antunes,Margarida Maria de Castro
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria 2022
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0021-75572022000300303
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