Physical Fitness and Locomotor Skills in Children With Esophageal Atresia-A Case Control Pilot Study
Background: Patients with esophageal atresia (EA) often experience physical limitations. With increasing survival over the past decades, the focus in care shifted toward improving the long-term quality of life. We performed validated testing fitness and motor skills in children born with EA.Methods:...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2018-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Pediatrics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fped.2018.00337/full |
| _version_ | 1818675282762006528 |
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| author | Tatjana T. König Oliver J. Muensterer |
| author_facet | Tatjana T. König Oliver J. Muensterer |
| author_sort | Tatjana T. König |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Patients with esophageal atresia (EA) often experience physical limitations. With increasing survival over the past decades, the focus in care shifted toward improving the long-term quality of life. We performed validated testing fitness and motor skills in children born with EA.Methods: Patients with EA were evaluated using the standardized Kinderturntest Plus/ Deutscher Motorik Test after caregiver's written consent. Test scores range from 1 to 5 (compared to an age- and gender matched standard population). Caregivers completed an online-questionnaire on patient history.Results: Seventeen patients (median age 7 [3–12] years) were included. Comorbidities were prematurity (54%), birth weight <1,500 g (23%), congenital heart disease (46%), developmental delay (38%), skeletal deformity (23%), and anorectal malformation (15%). The mean test score was significantly lower in children with EA (2.19) compared to a control group matched for age, gender, body weight, and –height, (2.75, p = 0.04), and the general population (3, p = 0.00). Distribution of patient scores was below the 41st performance percentile for gender and age in 54–63%. Caregivers identified notable deficits of strength and endurance. All but one patient complained about discomfort during physical exercise, most commonly respiratory distress (46%) and gastroesophageal reflux symptoms (31%). Notably, 93% of subjects participated in regular school physical education classes, and 86% participated regularly in additional organized sporting activities.Conclusions: Children after EA repair have decreased physical fitness and impaired locomotor function compared to the general population on a standardized test. Physical discomfort is frequent during exertion. To avoid demotivation, locomotor skill should be promoted at each individual's comfortable level.The study was registered at www.researchregistry.com (No. 3707). |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T08:25:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e1c8be616ab04b128d7d6820ded2c30f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T08:25:07Z |
| publishDate | 2018-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-e1c8be616ab04b128d7d6820ded2c30f2022-12-21T21:56:49ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pediatrics2296-23602018-11-01610.3389/fped.2018.00337412711Physical Fitness and Locomotor Skills in Children With Esophageal Atresia-A Case Control Pilot StudyTatjana T. KönigOliver J. MuenstererBackground: Patients with esophageal atresia (EA) often experience physical limitations. With increasing survival over the past decades, the focus in care shifted toward improving the long-term quality of life. We performed validated testing fitness and motor skills in children born with EA.Methods: Patients with EA were evaluated using the standardized Kinderturntest Plus/ Deutscher Motorik Test after caregiver's written consent. Test scores range from 1 to 5 (compared to an age- and gender matched standard population). Caregivers completed an online-questionnaire on patient history.Results: Seventeen patients (median age 7 [3–12] years) were included. Comorbidities were prematurity (54%), birth weight <1,500 g (23%), congenital heart disease (46%), developmental delay (38%), skeletal deformity (23%), and anorectal malformation (15%). The mean test score was significantly lower in children with EA (2.19) compared to a control group matched for age, gender, body weight, and –height, (2.75, p = 0.04), and the general population (3, p = 0.00). Distribution of patient scores was below the 41st performance percentile for gender and age in 54–63%. Caregivers identified notable deficits of strength and endurance. All but one patient complained about discomfort during physical exercise, most commonly respiratory distress (46%) and gastroesophageal reflux symptoms (31%). Notably, 93% of subjects participated in regular school physical education classes, and 86% participated regularly in additional organized sporting activities.Conclusions: Children after EA repair have decreased physical fitness and impaired locomotor function compared to the general population on a standardized test. Physical discomfort is frequent during exertion. To avoid demotivation, locomotor skill should be promoted at each individual's comfortable level.The study was registered at www.researchregistry.com (No. 3707).https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fped.2018.00337/fullfitnessphysical activitycongenital malformationesophageal atresiamotor functiongastroesophageal reflux |
| spellingShingle | Tatjana T. König Oliver J. Muensterer Physical Fitness and Locomotor Skills in Children With Esophageal Atresia-A Case Control Pilot Study Frontiers in Pediatrics fitness physical activity congenital malformation esophageal atresia motor function gastroesophageal reflux |
| title | Physical Fitness and Locomotor Skills in Children With Esophageal Atresia-A Case Control Pilot Study |
| title_full | Physical Fitness and Locomotor Skills in Children With Esophageal Atresia-A Case Control Pilot Study |
| title_fullStr | Physical Fitness and Locomotor Skills in Children With Esophageal Atresia-A Case Control Pilot Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physical Fitness and Locomotor Skills in Children With Esophageal Atresia-A Case Control Pilot Study |
| title_short | Physical Fitness and Locomotor Skills in Children With Esophageal Atresia-A Case Control Pilot Study |
| title_sort | physical fitness and locomotor skills in children with esophageal atresia a case control pilot study |
| topic | fitness physical activity congenital malformation esophageal atresia motor function gastroesophageal reflux |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fped.2018.00337/full |
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