DAILY PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY OF SCHOOLCHILDREN WITH SPASTIC DIPLEGIA AND OF HEALTHY CONTROL SUBJECTS

Objective: To assess the difference in daily physical activity between children with spastic diplegia and healthy schoolchildren, to determi ne whether special physical activity programs are needed in the popula tion with cerebral palsy. Design: Cross-sectional design, Setting: Chi ldren's rehabilitation center Franciscusoord (day care center) and ele mentary schools. Subjects: Children with spastic diplegia (5 boys; mea n (+/-SD) age 8.0 +/- 1,4 years; 9 ambulant, 1 wheelchair use) and hea lthy children (5 boys; mean (+/-SD) age 8.4 +/- 1,0 years). Measuremen ts: Total daily energy expenditure (TEE) and sleeping metabolic rate ( SMR) were measured by the doubly labeled water technique and a respira tion chamber. The TEE/SMR ratio was used as an index for the level of daily physical activity, Results: The TEE/SMR ratio under normal daily conditions in the children with cerebral palsy (mean +/-SD): 1,56 +/- 0.19) was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than in their healthy peers (mean +/-SD: 1,83 +/- 0.23) and was similar to the TEE/SMR ratio in a room-sized chamber. Conclusion: Children with spastic diplegia are con siderably less active than their healthy peers, We recommend special p hysical activity programs for these children.