Laurien M. Buffart, Marij E. Roebroeck, Mathilde Rol, Henk J. Stam, Rita JG van den Berg-Emons
DOI: 10.2340/16501977-0135

Objective: Comprehensively and objectively assess physical activity, aerobic fitness and body fat in adolescents and young adults with myelomeningocele and to investigate their relationships.
Design: Cross-sectional study.
Subjects: Fifty-one persons (26 males) with myelomeningo­cele aged 21. 1 (standard deviation) 4. 5) years.
Methods: Physical activity was measured with an accelero­metry-based activity monitor. Aerobic fitness was defined as the maximum oxygen uptake during the last minute of a maximal exercise test. Body fat was assessed using sum of 4 skin-folds and body mass index. Correlations were studied using multiple regression analyses.
Results: Thirty-nine percent of the participants were inactive and another 37% were extremely inactive. Aerobic fitness was 42% lower than normative values and 35% were obese. Ambulatory status was related to daily physical activity (β = 0. 541), aerobic fitness (β = 0. 397) and body fat (β = –0. 243). Gender was related to aerobic fitness (β = –0. 529) and body fat (β = 0. 610). Physical activity was related to aerobic fitness in non-ambulatory persons with myelomeningocele (β = 0. 398), but not in ambulatory persons.
Conclusion: Adolescents and young adults with myelo­meningocele were physically inactive, had poor aerobic fitness and high body fat. Differences exist between subgroups regarding gender and ambulatory status.