Barriers and motivators of physical activity levels and associated consequences on quality of life in children with cerebral palsy – a clinical consecutive cohort study

This prospective clinical consecutive cohort project will investigate barriers and motivators of habitual physical activity and its consequences on quality of life in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy with the perspective of providing evidence on optimizing physical activity and consequently improved overall health.
Children and adolescents with cerebral palsy may be trapped in a vicious circle of low physical fitness, early fatigue in daily activities, resulting in deconditioning and a further decrease in physical activity. From this perspective, establishing a healthy and active lifestyle during childhood is even more important for individuals with a disability, who are at higher risk for functional limitations and general fatigue in addition with developing secondary' conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. Furthermore, physical activity has a positive impact on quality of life, but it remains unknown which factors that influence high levels of habitual physical activity in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. By combining quantitative and qualitative methods the study will not only answer ‘how much more/less’ physical active the children are but also on a personal and societal level identify ‘why’ and provide potential solutions on ‘how’ to motivate for optimized physical activity levels.