Accelerometer-determined physical activity and walking capacity in persons with Down syndrome, Williams syndrome and Prader–Willi syndrome

Abstract

In this study we describe by use of accelerometers the total physical activity (PA), intensity pattern and walking capacity in 87 persons age 16-45 years with Down syndrome (DS), Williams syndrome (WS) and Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). Participants were recruited from all over Norway, and lived either with their parents or in community residences with support. On average the participants generated 294 counts per minute (cpm) or 6712 steps per day, with most of the day spent in sedentary activity, 522 min/day, followed by 212 min/day in light PA, 71 min/day in lifestyle activity and 27 min/day in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Inactivity was prevalent, as only 12% meet the current Nordic recommendations for PA. When compared, no differences for total physical activity or time in MVPA were observed between the three groups. However, participant with DS spent a mean of 73 min/day less and 43 min/day less in sedentary activities compared to participants with PWS and WS, respectively, (p=0.011, 95% CI: -10.9; -80.1). In addition the DS-group spent a mean of 66 min/day more in light PA than the PWS-group and 41 min/day more than the WS-group, (p<0.001, 95% CI: 29.3; 79.7). Participants with PWS spent on average 30 min/day less in lifestyle activities compared to both participants with DS and WS, (p<0.001, 95% CI: -14.2; -45.4). No association between total PA and BMI were observed. Males were more active than females across all diagnoses. Males accumulated on average 85 counts per minutes more than females, (p=0.002, 95% CI: 33.3; 136.7), 2137 more steps per day, (p=0.002, 95% CI: 778; 3496). The mean walking capacity during six-minutes was 507 m (SD 112 m) for males and 466 m (SD 88 m) for females. Distance walked during testing decreased with 33.6 m when comparing normal or underweight participants to overweight participants, and 78.1 m when comparing overweight to obese participants (p<0.001 95% CI: -40.4; -85.8). When adjusted for BMI no differences in walking capacity between the three genetic conditions were observed.

Domains of Daily Physical Activity in Children with Mitochondrial Disease: A 3D Accelerometry Approach

“…Interestingly, also the number of breaks in sedentary activity was reduced and longer periods of rest were observed. The resting percentage found in our study was comparable to the resting percentage in ambulatory normally weighted children with Down's-, William's-and Prader-Willi syndrome (Nordstrom et al 2013) and patients with CP, when both patient groups were stratified based on their walking abilities (Gorter et al 2012). Five young ambulatory boys (4-6 years) with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) (Jeannet et al 2011), who were significantly younger than our study subjects, spent much less time resting, but had comparable levels of dynamic activity when compared to our ambulatory patients.…”

Definitions, measurement and prevalence of sedentary behaviour in adults with intellectual disabilities — A systematic review

“…However, the minimum wear time required for inclusion in the analysis varied across the eight studies. In six studies the wear time cut-off for inclusion was three days of six hours 20-23;33;34 , one study required four days of 10 hours wear time for inclusion 32 and two studies did not report the minimum wear time required for inclusion. 30;31 The cut-off used to define sedentary behaviour based on accelerometer counts also differed across studies.…”

Interventions to promote physical activity for adults with intellectual disabilities

“…Researchers in Norway examined accelerometerdetermined physical activity and sedentary behaviour in a large sample of adults with Down syndrome, Williams syndrome, and Prader-Willi syndrome; all genetic conditions associated with intellectual disabilities. 6 These authors found that individuals spent 63% of their day in sedentary activity and 3% in moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity. Although on average individuals accrued 27 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity, overall only 12% of the sample met the Nordic recommendations of physical activity.…”