The role of motor activity in the structure of functional status in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy

The purpose of the study is to assess the role of motor activity in the structure of functional status based on the examination of correlation relationships with indicators of the musculoskeletal system, peripheral circulation of the lower and upper extremities, and autonomic regulation of heart rate at rest and during the performance of an orthostatic test in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. Research methods and organization. The study involved children and adolescents with cerebral palsy aged 4 to 17 years, and 278 indicators of their functional status (musculoskeletal system, peripheral hemodynamics, heart rate variability, neurological status) were collected. The results were analyzed using factor and correlation analysis. Research results and conclusions. Factor and correlation analyses allowed for the determination of the high significance of the functional class on the GMFCS scale within the structure of functional state parameters of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. The functional class on the GMFCS scale also plays a fairly important role in determining motor activity. The type of motor activity, considered as a type of additional extracurricular physical fitness and sports-oriented activities, has a less prioritized but still significant role both in the structure of functional state parameters of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy and in increasing the number of purposeful motor acts.