Description
Background: Children with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) may restrict their physical activity participation to maintain safety and minimise the chance of fracture. However, published literature investigating the participation of children with OI is scarce. Only one previous study (n=11) has reported on physical activity levels of Canadian children with OI, suggesting their participation in moderate to vigorous activity is no different to that of their unaffected peers (Pouliot-Laforte et al 2015).Aims: To determine the current physical activity participation of Australian children with OI, and to compare this to previously published levels of unaffected Australian peers.
Methods: Consecutive children aged 5-18 years, diagnosed with OI, presenting to a tertiary outpatient clinic form February – May 2016 were eligible for inclusion in this study. Children with a recent injury or an unrelated comorbidity affecting their physical activity participation were excluded from this study. Demographic details were collected from interview with a health professional. Children and their parents completed the Adolescent Physical Activity Recall Questionnaire describing the type and frequency of physical activity participation over the preceeding 12 months. Descriptive statistics were calculated and physical activity participation data was compared to that of data from recently published New South Wales school children.
Results: Preliminary data was obtained from 25 children (12 boys, mean age 11.9 years) with OI of varying severity (12 type I, 10 type IV, 3 type III, 1 type V). Swimming (68%) was the most common type of physical activity undertaken by children with OI, followed by walking (60%), and cycling (32%). Children with OI spent a median of 46 minutes per day (range 0-220 minutes) undertaking moderate to vigorous physical activity with 11/25 children meeting the recommended physical activity guidelines of 60 minutes per day. There was no significant difference in the minutes per day boys with OI spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity in comparison to their peers (absolute difference 7 minutes, 95% CI 3.4 – 10.6). However, boys with OI spent significantly less time in organised physical activity (absolute difference 24 minutes, 95% CI 22.4 – 25.6) and more time in non-organised activity (absolute difference 17 minutes, 95% CI 15.0 – 19.0), in comparison to their peers. Girls with OI spent significantly less minutes per day undertaking moderate to vigorous physical activity compared to their peers (absolute difference 48 minutes, 95% CI 45.5 – 50.5), significantly less time in organised activity (absolute difference 49 minutes, 95% CI 47.9 – 50.1), and a similar number of minutes per day in non-organised activity (absolute difference -1, 95% CI -2.5 – 0.5).
Conclusion: Less than half of Australian children with OI are meeting the current recommended guidelines for physical activity, with their current physical activity patterns demonstrating less time in organised physical activities in comparison to their peers. Girls with OI are undertaking significantly less moderate to vigorous physical activity than their unaffected peers, while there is no difference in the activity levels of boys with OI and their peers. Clinicians working with children with OI should focus on supporting girls with OI to increase their physical activity levels, and assist families in identifying appropriate organised physical activity opportunities that children with OI can safely participate in.
Funding for this study was provided by the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Society of Australia.
Reference
Pouliot-Laforte A, Veilleux LN, Rauch F, LeMay M. Physical activity in youth with Osteogenesis Imperfecta type I. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2015 Jun;15(2):171-6.
Period | 23 Sept 2016 → 24 Sept 2016 |
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Event title | 1st Asia Pacific Bone Disorders Symposium |
Event type | Conference |
Location | Melbourne, AustraliaShow on map |