Triad of physical activity, aerobic fitness and obesity in adolescents and young adults with myelomeningocele

Abstract

Objective: Comprehensively and objectively assess physical activity, aerobic fitness and body fat in adolescents and young adults with myelomeningocele and to investigate their relationships. Design: Cross-sectional study. Subjects: Fifty-one persons (26 males) with myelomeningocele aged 21.1 (standard deviation) 4.5) years. Methods: Physical activity was measured with an accelerometry-based activity monitor. Aerobic fitness was defined as the maximum oxygen uptake during the last minute of a maximal exercise test. Body fat was assessed using sum of 4 skin-folds and body mass index. Correlations were studied using multiple regression analyses. Results: Thirty-nine percent of the participants were inactive and another 37% were extremely inactive. Aerobic fitness was 42% lower than normative values and 35% were obese. Ambulatory status was related to daily physical activity (β = 0.541), aerobic fitness (β = 0.397) and body fat (β = -0.243). Gender was related to aerobic fitness (β = -0.529) and body fat (β = 0.610). Physical activity was related to aerobic fitness in non-ambulatory persons with myelomeningocele (β = 0.398), but not in ambulatory persons. Conclusion: Adolescents and young adults with myelomeningocele were physically inactive, had poor aerobic fitness and high body fat. Differences exist between subgroups regarding gender and ambulatory status.

Body composition and energy expenditure in a population of children and adolescents with myelomeningocele

“…1 The incidence of myelomeningocele is approximately 1-2 cases every 1000 live births but differs widely from one country to the other. [2][3][4] A n a b n o r m a l i n t r a u t e r i n e position causes significant congenital orthopedic diseases that worsen during early childhood due to muscle imbalance, postural effects, growth, etc. Eighty percent of children with upper lumbar injuries have short stature; the causes include lower limb hypoplasia, scoliosis, 1 recurrent urinary tract infections, chronic renal failure, etc.…”

Avaliação da composição corporal de crianças e jovens com deficiência

“…Jovens com deficiência comumente apresentam um estilo de vida fisicamente inativo, podendo acarretar em um baixo condicionamento aeróbico e níveis mais altos de sobrepeso quando comparados a seus pares sem deficiência (21) . Além da baixa oportunidade de movimentos, pessoas com deficiência de caráter genético, como a síndrome de Down e a mielomeningocele, apresentam predisposição e maior probabilidade de se tornarem obesas (22) .…”

A more active lifestyle in persons with a recent spinal cord injury benefits physical fitness and health

“…No relation was found in a study of ambulatory persons with cerebral palsy, 18 and in another study, on persons with myelomeningocele, a correlation was only found in the non-ambulatory group. 19 It seems that activity level is correlated with aerobic capacity only in persons with a very low aerobic capacity, that is, wheelchair users who are subject to a sedentary lifestyle.…”