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

Alberto J. Molina-Cantero, Manuel Merino-Monge, Juan A. Castro-García, Thais Pousada-García, David Valenzuela-Muñoz, Juan Gutiérrez-Párraga, Setefilla López-Álvarez and Isabel M. Gómez-González
Additional contact information
Alberto J. Molina-Cantero: Departamento de Tecnología Electrónica, E.T.S.I. Informática, Campus de Reina Mercedes, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
Manuel Merino-Monge: Departamento de Tecnología Electrónica, E.T.S.I. Informática, Campus de Reina Mercedes, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
Juan A. Castro-García: Departamento de Tecnología Electrónica, E.T.S.I. Informática, Campus de Reina Mercedes, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
Thais Pousada-García: TALIONIS Research Group, CITIC Research Center, University of A Coruña, 15006 Coruña, Spain
David Valenzuela-Muñoz: Asociación Sevillana de Parálisis Cerebral (ASPACE), Dos Hermanas, 41704 Seville, Spain
Juan Gutiérrez-Párraga: Centro Específico de Educación Especial Mercedes Sanromá, Junta de Andalucía, Camino del Silo, 2, 41012 Seville, Spain
Setefilla López-Álvarez: Centro Específico de Educación Especial Mercedes Sanromá, Junta de Andalucía, Camino del Silo, 2, 41012 Seville, Spain
Isabel M. Gómez-González: Departamento de Tecnología Electrónica, E.T.S.I. Informática, Campus de Reina Mercedes, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 17, 1-22

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: cerebral palsy; physical activity; exercise programs; rehabilitation; low-cost solutions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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