The relationship between sedentary behavior and physical activity with body composition and bone mineral density in adults with cerebral palsy

Abstract

It is known that physical activity in adults with cerebral palsy decreases by exacerbation of motor dysfunction. This study investigated the correlation between adults with cerebral palsy who show sedentary behavior (SB) and their physical activity, gross motor function, body composition, and bone mineral density in adults with cerebral palsy. The study participants were 23 adults with cerebral palsy who were classified using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I, II, III, and IV. The factors taken into consideration included sitting time, light physical activity (LPA) time, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) time per day, and body fat percentage, site-specific skeletal muscle mass, and bone mineral density. The participants in the GMFCS levels III and IV had a longer sitting time and lower LPA and MVPA time than the GMFCS levels I and II. The GMFCS levels III and IV had lower limb skeletal muscle mass and bone mineral density. In addition, there was a significant correlation between SB and the skeletal muscle of the upper limb, while SB, LPA, and MVPA time were significantly correlated with bone mineral density. The results of this study suggested that lifestyle guidance that decreasing sitting time and increasing LPA and MVPA time contribute to the maintenance and improvement of bone mineral density in adults with cerebral palsy.