Quantification of walking-based physical activity and sedentary time in individuals with Rett syndrome.
Jenny Downs, Helen Leonard, Kingsley Wong and 2 others
PMID 28164278WHAT IT FOUND
Girls and women with Rett syndrome who could walk spent an average of 62% of waking hours sedentary.
Older age, needing walking help, and frequent seizures were linked to fewer steps.
Key findings
01An average of 62% of waking hours was spent in sedentary time, equivalent to 7.2 hours, and an average of 20% of waking hours was spent doing light-intensity walking, equivalent to 2.2 hours per day.
02Females aged 19 years and above took 62% fewer steps than girls younger than 13 years in a model accounting for walking ability, scoliosis, and seizure frequency, and those who walked independently took twice the number of steps each day as those needing assistance in a model accounting for age, scoliosis, and seizure frequency.
03Those with weekly or daily seizures took 37% fewer steps than those without seizures.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
This is a cross-sectional study, so it does not show that age, walking assistance, or seizures caused lower activity. The analysis included 64 participants with adequate StepWatch data, and the study was limited to those who could walk independently or with assistance. The StepWatch recorded steps from the right ankle, and some recorded movement may not have been walking, such as involuntary movements. Sedentary time was defined as minutes with zero steps, which likely underestimated sitting or non-walking time. The study could not say which cadence bands represented moderate or vigorous activity in Rett syndrome. Additional data on seizure type and duration would be needed to understand the relationship between seizure severity and activity.
Declared interests
The authors declared no interests that might be perceived as a conflict or bias.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that independent walking means enough activity or that moderate or vigorous walking is achievable. The measured activity was mostly slow walking, and the study did not test an intervention.