Factors Related to Physical Activity in Adults with Cerebral Palsy May Differ for Walkers and Nonwalkers

Abstract

Maltais DB, Dumas F, Boucher N, Richards CL: Factors related to physical activity in adults with cerebral palsy may differ for walkers and nonwalkers. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2010; 89: 584-597. Objective: To explore what factors besides walking ability, e. g., additional health problems or complications, general health, and sociodemographic status, may be related to physical activity in adults with cerebral palsy. Design: We administered a questionnaire regarding sociodemographic and health-related factors of potential relevance to physical activity to 66 men (20-41 yrs) and 66 women (18-39 yrs) with various types of cerebral palsy. Data were analyzed using logistic regression. Results: Use of walking as the primary means of self-transport (walking ability) was associated with a higher odds of being physically active (odds ratio = 3.75; P = 0.002). Among those who could walk, being younger and having a positive perception of health were also associated with a higher odds of being active (odds ratios of 2.6 and 3.0, respectively). This was not true among nonwalkers. For individuals who walked, inactivity was associated with an increase in the severity (during the past 3 yrs) of several additional health problems or complications. For the nonwalkers, inactivity was most clearly associated with perceived range-of-motion limitations. Conclusions: Among adults with cerebral palsy, the ability to walk, as expected, is associated with being physically active. The factors additionally related to physical activity differ between walkers and nonwalkers.