Article

PURPOSE: To quantify the walking activity of children with myelomeningocele
during daily living. METHOD: Walking activity was measured using a StepWatch
activity monitor over one week in 47 children with myelomeningocele (27 males; 9
years 11 months SD 2 years 7 months; 18 sacral, 9 low lumbar, 20 mid-high lumbar)
and seven children with typical development (5 males; 11 years 1 month SD 1 year
11 months) in a prospective, cross-sectional study. Average total steps per day,
number of steps and minutes spent at low, medium and high intensity stepping were
evaluated. Groups were compared using t-tests and chi-squared tests with
Bonferroni post-hoc adjustment. RESULTS: Children with sacral and low lumbar
myelomeningocele exhibited no significant differences in demographic
characteristics or walking performance compared to typically developing children.
Children with mid-high lumbar myelomeningocele exhibited higher BMI percentile
than the control group (p = 0.04) and took fewer total steps per day than all
other groups (p </= 0.04). Children with mid-high lumbar myelomeningocele also
spent significantly less time taking steps at all intensity levels, particularly
medium-intensity, than the sacral and low lumbar groups (p </= 0.04).
CONCLUSIONS: Children with sacral and low lumbar myelomeningocele had walking
performance similar to typically developing children despite a common need for
braces and assistive devices. Children with mid-high lumbar myelomeningocele were
less active, which may lead to heightened risk for secondary health conditions in
addition to those associated with myelomeningocele. Implications for
Rehabilitation Obesity, muscle weakening and disuse osteoporosis are issues for
those with myelomeningocele, all of which are affected by walking activity.
Understanding walking activity and intensity in children and adolescents with
myelomeningocele may aid in developing focused rehabilitation interventions and
strategies. Real world walking activity as an objective and quantified measure
has the potential to help guide therapists and surgeons to more effective
treatments.

Langue : ANGLAIS