Mental Health Benefits of Physical Activity in Youth with Cerebral Palsy: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Aims

Children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) are at heightened risk for mental health problems. Physical activity is an effective strategy to promote quality of life (QoL) and reduce mental health symptoms along with evidence-based therapies. This study described existing literature examining the mental health outcomes (e.g., QoL, well-being, anxiety, and depression) of physical activity interventions in children and adolescents with CP to help inform the implementation of physical activity interventions for this population.

Methods

Ascoping review framework was used to map the existing quantitative literature.

Results

The search returned 243 articles; after titles, abstracts, and full manuscripts were reviewed, 21 articles were included. The association between physical activity and QoL was examined in most studies (n = 17) with mixed findings. Eight studies documented at least one significant positive association between physical activity and QoL, and four found that physical activity interventions were highly enjoyable. Only one study assessed anxiety and/or depression following a PA intervention.

Conclusions

Physical activity may benefit aspects of QoL and mental health symptoms; however, this was not a consistent finding in the existing literature. Along with other therapies, physical activity interventions may be valuable in improving QoL, and in turn, the mental health symptoms of children with CP.

Keywords:

• Adolescent
• child
• cerebral palsy
• physical activity
• mental health
• quality of life

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jessica Starowicz

Jessica Starowicz is a Master of Science Graduate from the Health and Rehabilitation Sciences program at Western University.

Karen Pratt

Karen Pratt is a first year PhD student in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Western University. Karen completed her Master of Sciences under the supervision of Dr. Laura Brunton in 2021. Karen is a registered kinesiologist and works in a pediatric rehabilitation setting in London, Ontario. Karen is interested in meaningful participation for people with childhood onset disabilities and how this can impact psychosocial outcomes including quality of life, mental health, and wellbeing.

Carly McMorris

Carly McMorris is an Associate Professor in the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary (Calgary, AB, Canada) and a child clinical psychologist. She is the director of the ENHANCE Lab (Enriching research in Neurodevelopment, Health, and Child Education). Her program of research improves the mental health of children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disabilities, including autism and cerebral palsy.

Laura Brunton

Laura Brunton is an Assistant Professor in the School of Physical Therapy at Western University and is a registered Physiotherapist.