The 24-Hour Physical Activities in Adults With Cerebral Palsy and Their Adherence to the 24-Hour Movement Guideline
Prepared by: AACPDM Digest reviewer/ Jaishree Capoor, MD
Keywords:
- Cerebral palsy
- Physical activity
- Sleep
- Adults
Study type: Cross-sectional study
Summary: Optimizing sleep and physical activity is essential for overall health in individuals with Cerebral Palsy (CP). However, research on their combined 24-hour activity patterns remains limited. This study aimed to describe sleep and physical activity behaviors, explore potential influencing factors, and compare findings with adults without CP. A total of 110 adults with CP (22-77 years) and 89 controls (18-78 years) participated. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), physical activity with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, and overall health with the EuroQOL-5D.
Adults with CP frequently reported sleep disturbances, including difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings, night time pain, nightmares, and needing the toilet. Their sleep quality was significantly worse than that of controls. Despite these challenges, 64% of adults with CP met recommended physical activity guidelines, with activity levels comparable to ambulatory individuals without CP. However, only 44% of adults with CP met physical activity guidelines alone, whereas 51% of controls met both sleep and physical activity recommendations. Notably, no significant associations were found between 24-hour activity patterns and CP severity, age, sex, pain, or anxiety/depression.
These findings highlight the high prevalence of poor sleep and the need for increased attention to 24-hour activity patterns in adults with CP. Given the potential consequences of inadequate sleep and insufficient physical activity—such as reduced quality of life, increased pain, and further mobility limitations—clinicians should routinely assess and address these concerns in clinical practice. Regular monitoring can aid in early intervention and promote better health outcomes. Further research is needed to identify additional factors influencing sleep and physical activity and to develop targeted strategies to improve overall well-being in this population.