Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-gtxcr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-23T10:21:17.467Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Physical activity in children and adolescents with congenital heart disease. Aspects of measurements with an activity monitor

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 August 2008

P. M. Fredriksen ,
E. Ingjer  and
E. Thaulow
P. M. Fredriksen*
Affiliation:
Pediatric Heart Section, The National Hospital, Oslo, Norway
E. Ingjer
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Physiology, Norwegian University of Sport and Physical Education, Oslo, Norway
E. Thaulow
Affiliation:
Pediatric Heart Section, The National Hospital, Oslo, Norway
*
Per Morten Fredriksen, Pediatric Heart Section, The National Hospital, Pilestredet 32, 0027 Oslo. Norway, Tel +47 22 86 90 92, Fax +47 22 86 91 01, E-mail permf@galenos.uio.no
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate different aspects of a device designed to monitor physical activity. Measurements of different axes and placement of the monitor were tested using a treadmill with ranging increments in incline or speed. The monitor was also used to assess the level of physical activity among children and adolescents with congenital heart disease and in healthy controls at the same age. The results indicate that the monitor is a valid and reproducible instrument for measurements of physical activity. The study revealed that the level of activity was higher for healthy boys than healthy girls (p<0.0001). Boys with congenital heart disease also displayed higher values compared to girls with congenital heart disease, although the difference was not significant (p=0.067). Healthy boys revealed a significantly higher level of activity than did boys with congenital heart disease (p=0.003), but no such difference was found in girls (p=0.757). Nor were any differences found between younger and older indi viduals among patients with congenital heart disease. Young healthy controls, however, showed significantly higher levels of activity than their older counterparts. There were differences in activity monitored during the week, with lower activity in the weekends, but the activity on the same day in different weeks seemed stable. Neither were there any differences between measurements over whole weeks. The results indicate that the Computer Science & Application monitor is a valid instrument for assessing physical activity. The monitor may also be used, therefore, to validate the levels of physical activity level in children with congenital heart disease after medical and surgical treatment.

Keywords

Childrenadolescentshealthycongenital heart diseasephysical activity level
Type
Original Articles
Information
Cardiology in the Young , Volume 10 , Issue 2 , March 2000 , pp. 98 - 106
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2000

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Haskell, WL, Yee, MC, Evans, A, Irby, PJ. Simultaneous meas urement of heart rate and body motion to quantitate physical activity. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1993; 25: 109–115.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2.Shephard, RJ, Balady, GJ. Exercise as Cardiovascular Therapy. Circulation 1999; 99: 963–972.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3.Janz, KF, Cassady, SL, Barr, RN, and Kelly, JM. Monitoring Exercise in children and adolescents with Cystic Fibrosis: Validation of the CSA Accelerometer. Cardiopulm Phys Therapy 1995: 6: 3–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.Janz, KF, Witt, J, Mahoney, LT. The stability of childrens physical activity as measured by accelerometer and self-report. Med.Sci.Sports Exerc. 1995; 27: 1326–1332.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5.Janz, KF. Validation of the CSA accelerometer for assessing children's physical activity. Med Sci Sports Exert 1994; 26: 369–375.Google Scholar
6.Freedson, PS. Field monitoring of physical activity in children. Ped Ex.Sci. 1989; 1: 8–18.Google ScholarPubMed
7.Maliszewski, AF, Freedson, PS, Ebbeling, CJ, Crussemeyer, J, Kastango, KB. Validity of the Caltrac accelerometer in esti mating energy expenditure and activity in children and adults. Ped Ex Sci 1991; 141–151.Google Scholar
8.Meijer, GA, Westerterp, KR, Verhoeven, FM, Koper, HB, ten Hoor, F. Methods to assess physical activity with special reference to motion sensors and accelerometers. Trans Biomed Eng 1991; 38: 221–229.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9.Meijer, GA, Westerterp, KR, Koper, H, ten Hoor, F. Assessment of energy expenditure by recording heart rate and body acceler ation. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1989; 21: 343–347.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10.Klesges, RC, Klesges, LM, Swenson, AM, Pheley, AM. A vali dation of two motion sensors in the prediction of child and adult physical activity levels. Am J Epidemiol 1985; 122: 400–410.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11.Klesges, LM, Klesges, RC. The assessment of children's physical activity: a comparison of methods. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1987; 19: 511–517.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12.Saris, WH. The assessment and evaluation of daily physical activity in children. A review. Acta Paediatr Scand Suppl 1985; 318: 37–48.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13.Tryon, WW, Williams, K. Fully proportional actigraphy: A new instrument. Behavior Reseach Methods, Instruments & Computers 1996; 28: 392–403.Google Scholar
14.Melanson, EL, Freedson, PS. Validity of the computer science and applications, Inc. (CSA) activity monitor. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1995; 27: 934–940.Google Scholar
15.Montoye, HJ, Washburn, R, Servais, S, Ertl, A, Webster, JG. Estimation of energy expenditure by a portable accelerometer. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1983, 15; 403–407.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16.Thoren, C. Exercise testing in children. Paediatrician 1978; 7: 100–115.Google ScholarPubMed
17.Fredriksen, PM, Ingjer, F, Nystad, W, and Thaulow, E. A comparison of VO2peak, between patients with CHD and healthy subjects, all aged 8–17 years. Eur J Appl Physiol 1999; (accepted)Google Scholar
18.Longmuir, PE, Turner, JA, Rowe, RD, Olley, PM. Postoperative exercise rehabilitation benefits children with congenital heart disease. Clin Invest Med 1985; 8: 232–238.Google ScholarPubMed