Article

Spina bifida (SB) is the most common birth defect in United States that results
in permanent lifelong disability according to the Spina Bifida Association.
Advancements in medical care have led to a longer life span and an increase in
the risk of secondary conditions, for example, obesity, with age. The need to
maintain a healthy and active lifestyle is even stronger in adults with SB than
the general population. Our objective was to fill a gap in the literature by
highlighting the current state of the literature on health-related measures of
fitness, exercise, and physical activity (PA) in adults with SB. PubMed and Ovid
were searched for articles by using the terms "spina bifida or myelomeningocele
and exercise," published between January 1, 1988 and May 10, 2012. Results of
studies showed that adults with SB had an inactive lifestyle, lower aerobic
capacity, decreased level of daily PA, higher prevalence of obesity, and lower
health-related quality of life compared with reference groups. Therapeutic
interventions reduced pain, increased biomechanical efficiency during wheelchair
propulsion, and improved PA and balance. Overall, the quality of the evidence on
PA, exercise, and health-related measures of fitness is low in SB. Given
misdistribution of adipose tissue, short stature, scoliosis, and joint
contractures, future research should be conducted to determine the most reliable
and low-cost methods of measuring body composition and to establish norms. Other
reference standards, for example, aerobic capacity, require further development.
Studies are needed to investigate lifestyle interventions that facilitate PA and
exercise, and to determine the amount of exercise required to reduce secondary
conditions as people with SB age.
CI - Copyright (c) 2013 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS