Outdoor Time Associated with Physical Activity Levels in Children and Adolescents: Healthy Hearts Prospective Cohort Study

ObjectivesPregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain (LPP) is a frequent condition known to significantly affect women in their daily life. The aetiology of pregnancy-related LPP pain is still not clearly established but the mode of conception has been suggested to contribute to LPP. Anxiety related to fertility treatments may be one of the contributing factors. The primary objectives of this study were to determine the evolution of LPP prevalence and severity, and anxiety throughout pregnancy in women who conceived spontaneously (SP) or after fertility treatments (FT). A further aim was to examine the relationship between pregnancy-related LPP severity and anxiety. The secondary objective was to determine the evolution of physical activity and their correlation with the severity of pregnancy-related LPP.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingPregnant women were recruited through physicians’ referrals, posters and newspaper advertisements in the local and surrounding communities (hospital, maternity care clinic, prenatal centres, sports centres, local university) in the city of Trois-Rivières, Canada.Participants59 pregnant women (33 SP and 26 FT) were assessed during the first, second and third trimester of pregnancy.Primary and secondary outcome measuresPregnancy-related LPP prevalence and severity (primary), trait and state anxiety, and physical activity levels (secondary).ResultsThere was no relationship between the mode of conception and the outcome measures. The prevalence and severity of LPP increased over the course of pregnancy (time effect, p<0.0001) whereas trait anxiety decreased from early to mid-pregnancy (time effect, p=0.03). Activity limitations increased throughout pregnancy (time effect, p<0.0001) and physical activity levels decreased (time effect, p<0.0001). The severity of LPP was positively correlated with activity limitations (r=0.51 to 0.55) but negatively with physical activity levels (r=−0.39 to −0.41).ConclusionsMaternal health-related factors, such as LPP, anxiety and physical activity, are not different in women who conceived spontaneously or after fertility treatments. The more LPP was severe, the more the women were physically limited and inactive.

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Predictors of physical activity levels in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: clinical cohort study protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047522 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. e047522

Author(s):

Christina Esmann Fonvig ◽

Jens Troelsen ◽

Ulrike Dunkhase-Heinl ◽

Jens Martin Lauritsen ◽

Anders Holsgaard-Larsen

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Prospective Cohort Study ◽

Prospective Cohort ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Study Results

IntroductionChildren and adolescents with cerebral palsy may be trapped in a vicious circle of low physical fitness, resulting in deconditioning that causes a further decrease in physical activity (PA), a lower quality of life and an increased risk of developing non-communicable diseases. Therefore, establishing a healthy and active lifestyle during childhood is even more important for individuals with a disability. However, the factors that influence habitual PA in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy remain unknown.The present protocol outlines a prospective cohort study with the aim of investigating potential predictors of habitual PA in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy in order to provide evidence for optimising PA levels and associated overall health.Methods and analysisThis prospective cohort study will enrol participants with cerebral palsy between the ages of 8 and 15 years at Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I–III. Using a modified version of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health model as a conceptual analytical framework, the analysis will be divided into six components and will provide predictors for habitual PA measured by accelerometry. The potential predictive variables are registry data on physical function (Danish Cerebral Palsy Follow-Up Programme); validated proxy-reported questionnaires on quality of life (Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory), overall health, pain and participation in daily activities (Paediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument) and supplementary questions regarding sleep, screen time and socioeconomic status.Ethics and disseminationThe project is approved by the Danish Data Protection Agency (19/16396) and has been declared not notifiable by the Regional Committee on Health Research Ethics, cf. Committee Act Art. 14, paragraph 1 (S-20192000-23). The study results will be published in international peer-reviewed journals, presented at international conferences, and published in a PhD dissertation.Trial registration numberNCT04614207.

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