Active Start Active Future: Feasibility of a Behaviour-Change Intervention to Reduce Sedentary Behaviour and Promote Physical Activity in Young Children with Cerebral Palsy

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Abstract
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have low physical activity (PA) and high sedentary behavior. The aim was to trial a participation-focused behavior-change intervention to increase PA and decrease sedentary behavior. Twelve children with CP were recruited (mean age 5 years 6 months ± 1 year 2 months, Gross Motor Function Classification System [GMFCS] levels I = 1, II = 1, III = 1, IV = 4, V = 5); eight with complete post-intervention data (mean 5 years 10 months ± 1 year 4 months, GMFCS I = 1, III = 1, IV = 4, V = 2). Children received 8 weekly sessions targeting individualized PA participation goals in a pre-post feasibility trial. Outcomes included: implementation, effectiveness (Canadian Occupational Performance Measure [COPM]), device-measured PA, goal confidence, quality of life, and barriers to PA participation. Semi-structured interviews explored acceptability and were analyzed thematically. Implementation was feasible with ≥90% sessions attended and high enjoyment (89.5%). After 8 wk, COPM goal performance (mean difference [MD] = 2.9, 95% CI 0.7, 5.0; p = 0.02), satisfaction with performance (MD = 3.0, 95% CI 1.6, 4.4; p = 0.002), and confidence (MD = 1.4, 95% CI 0.4, 2.5; p = 0.02) significantly increased with no change in other outcomes. All six caregivers interviewed reported the intervention to be acceptable. Active Start Active Future was feasible to conduct, acceptable and showed preliminary evidence to improve PA in young children with CP.
Funding Information
  • The University of Queensland
  • the Merchant Charitable Foundation and National Health and Medical Research Council Fellowship RN Boyd (NHMRC1105038)

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