Walking through life with cerebral palsy: reflections on daily walking by adults with cerebral palsy

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Walking is a major target in childhood physiotherapy for children with cerebral palsy (CP). Little information exists on the importance or value of walking when these children grow up. The aim of this study was to explore personal reflections on daily walking by adults with CP.

Method: Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted and analysed with systematic text condensation, a four-step thematic cross-case analysis.

Results: Eight ambulatory adults (26–60 years, four women and four men) with CP were interviewed. Almost all had experienced deteriorated walking ability in adulthood and reported that walking was restricted and affected by intrinsic features, such as pain, fatigue, reduced balance and fear of falling. Extrinsic features such as being looked at due to walking abnormality and environmental factors, such as seasonal changes affected their free walking and was common. Some had accepted using mobility aids for energy conservation.

Conclusions: Both intrinsic and extrinsic factors influence walking in adults with CP. Reflections by the adults with CP suggest these features may reduce participation in public spaces and potentially increase acceptance and use of mobility aids.

KEYWORDS:

• Adults
• cerebral palsy
• walking
• gait
• reflections
• interview

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the participants in this study sharing their reflections on daily walking, and also Associate Professor Bård Bogen for valuable inputs.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Beate Eltarvåg Gjesdal

Beate Eltarvåg Gjesdal is a PhD student in health sciences at University of Bergen and Western Norway University of Applied Sciences with special interest in health science, sports science and gait.

Reidun Jahnsen

Reidun Jahnsen is an academic physiotherapist and professor at University of Oslo with special interest in cerebral palsy and rehabilitation in a life span perspective, in addition to gait analysis and impact on activity and participation, especially in adapted physical activity.

Prue Morgan

Prue Morgan is an academic physiotherapist and Associate Professor and Head of Department, Physiotherapy, Monash University, with special interest in neurological physiotherapy, falls prevention, and developmental disability.

Arve Opheim

Arve Opheim is an academic physiotherapist, Chief of Research and Development at Habilitation & Health Region Västra Götaland, Sweden and head of research group “Movement and function” at Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital, Norway. He has special interests in rehabilitation medicine, physiotherapy, gait and movement analysis and neurology.

Silje Mæland

Silje Mæland is an academic physiotherapist and associate professor at University of Bergen with special interest in rehabilitation, public health, health science and neurology.