van Rijssen Ilse Margot, Gorter Jan Willem, Visser-Meily Johanna Maria Augusta, Konijnenbelt Manin, van Driel Marieke, van Drunen Mandy Geertruda Cornelia Carina, Verschuren Olaf
Center of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University and De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Center of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University and De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy Science and Sports, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; CanChild, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2025 May;106(5):696-703. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2024.12.021. Epub 2025 Jan 9.
To describe 24-hour physical activities (sleep and physical activity) in adults with cerebral palsy (CP), explore potential influencing factors, and compare 24-hour physical activities with controls.
Cross-sectional, observational internet study involving adults with CP and a convenience sample of adults without CP.
Individuals residing in the Netherlands.
A total of 110 adults with CP (median age: 42, range: 28-77 years; 64 [58%] ambulant; 40% men) and 89 adult controls (median age; 43, range: 18-78 years; 29% men).
Sleep quantity and quality measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, physical activity measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire- Short Form, and health status using the 5-level EuroQol-5D.
Most recurrent sleep problems for adults with CP included falling asleep, waking up, needing the toilet, having nightmares, and experiencing pain during the night. Sleep quality was significantly worse for adults with CP than controls. A total of 64% of adults with CP met the physical activity guidelines. Total physical activity was similar between adults with CP who are ambulatory and controls. A total of 44% of adults with CP, compared with 51% controls, met both sleep and physical activity guidelines. No factors influencing the 24-hour activities were found for level of severity, age, sex, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression.
Given the prevalence of worse sleep quality and modest adherence to the 24-hour movement guideline, this study emphasizes the importance for clinicians to assess problems in physical activities during clinical encounters with adults with CP.
