Anthropometric and fitness variables associated with bone mineral density and broadband ultrasound attenuation in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy

We investigated anthropometric and fitness variables associated with areal bone mineral densities and broadband ultrasound attenuation in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy. Thirty-four children with cerebral palsy, aged 4-12 years, and 33 normal development children were collected. There were significant differences in femoral bone densities and calcaneus broadband ultrasound attenuation, but not in lumbar bone densities, between cerebral palsy and normal groups. Regression analysis revealed that different anthropometric and fitness variables were linked to bone densities of different skeletal regions in children with cerebral palsy (adjusted r² =.41-.67). Growth variables were mainly related to femoral and lumbar bone densities, while muscular endurance was mainly related to femoral and calcaneus bone densities. These findings suggest multiple complex variables can contribute to bone density variations among different skeleton areas in these children. These data can allow clinicians to identifying early these children at risk for low bone density.