ABSTRACT
Due to advances in the medical approach, mortality rates have decreased in recent years and more children with neuromotor disability can now be expected to live to be adults (Roebroeck et al., 2009). This requires a different approach in medical management of these patients from childhood through adolescence into adulthood, with attention not only to the pathological aspects, but also to the (preventable) medical, functional and social consequences of neuromotor disability. Spina Bifida (SB) is the most frequently seen congenital deformity of the neural tube, with an incidence ranging from 2–8 per 10000 live births worldwide (Kondo et al., 2009). As a result of the neural tube deformity, patients experience a variety of deficits in cognition, motor function, sensory function and bowel and bladder function (Ryan et al., 1991). Several studies have shown children and adolescents and young adults with SB to be less active, resulting in obesity, reduced health-related quality of life and significantly reduced levels of physical fitness when compared with healthy peers (van den Berg-Emons et al., 2003; Buffart et al., 2008; Schoenmakers et al., 2008). Ambulatory children with SB do not only perform poorer compared to their healthy peers, but also compared to children with other chronic conditions (Hassan et al., 2010). Besides, a relationship was found between aerobic capacity and energy expenditure during ambulation (De Groot et al., 2008).
