Characteristics and risk of bias of included quantitative studies, including ‘wheelchair users’
| Article # | Author (Year) | Intervention type (exercise mode) | Setting; nationality | Participants: cause of impairment; intervention and control n, % male; age; GMFCS (when available) | Duration; follow-up | Risk of bias |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RCTs, including wheelchair users | ||||||
| 1 | Jansen et al (2013) | Cycling: arm and peddle | Home; the Netherlands | Duchenne muscular dystrophy; I: 17 C: 13; 100%; range 7–13 years; late ambulatory phase or wheelchair dependent | 24 weeks; 24 weeks | High |
| 2a | Van Den Berg-Emons et al (1998) | Sport/games-based aerobic. (4 times per week) | Community, group; the Netherlands | Cerebral palsy (spastic); I: 10 C: 10; 55%; range 7–13 years; ‘half of the children was ambulant, the other half wheelchair-bound’ | 9 months; 3 months | Unclear |
| 2b | Van Den Berg-Emons et al 1998 | Sport/games-based aerobic. (2 times per week) | Community, group; the Netherlands | Cerebral palsy (spastic); I: 9 C: 9; unknown%; range 7–13 years; ‘half of the children was ambulant, the other half wheelchair-bound’ | 9 months; – | Unclear |
| 3 | Van Wely et al (2014a) (part of same study as #4) | Complex: Lifestyle counselling and fitness training | Combined home and supervised group; the Netherlands | Cerebral palsy; I: 23 C: 23; 57%; range 7–13 years; GMFCS 1–3 | 6 months; 6 months | Low |
| 4 | Van Wely et al (2014b)(part of same study as #3) | Complex: Lifestyle counselling and fitness training | Combined home and supervised group; the Netherlands | Cerebral palsy; I: 23 C: 23; 57%; range 7–13 years; GMFCS 1–3 | 6 months; 6 months | Low |
| Non-RCTs, including wheelchair users | ||||||
| 5 | Andrade et al (1991) | Complex programme: PRT and cardiovascular exercise, and psychosocial component | Community, group; Canada | Spina bifida; I : 8 C: 5; 50%; range 7–13 years; 6 ‘wheelchair users’ and 7 ‘community ambulatory’ | 10 weeks; – | High |
| 6 | Buffart et al (2010) | Complex: Lifestyle counselling and personalised activities | Mixture of home and supervised; the Netherlands | A 17-year-old male with myelomeningocele and hydrocephalus, non-functional ambulator and a 23-year-old female with unilateral cerebral palsy, GMFCS 1 | 10 weeks; – | High |
| 7 | Fragala-Pinkham et al (2005) | Complex programme: PRT and aerobic exercise. | Group supervised phase followed by home phase; USA | Physical or other developmental disabilities; group phase: 9 home phase: 7; 78%; range 5–9 years; GMFCS 1–3 | 14 weeks group; 12 weeks home | High |
| 8 | Gordon et al (2013) | Nintendo Wii | Supervised; Jamaica | Cerebral palsy; I: 7 C: –; 57%; range 9–12 years; 4 wheelchair users. | 6 weeks; – | High |
| 9 | Odman and Oberg (2005) | Functional exercises (combined Lemo + move and walk interventions) | Group, location unclear; Sweden | Cerebral palsy; I: 52 C: –; 59%; unknown %; range 3–16 years; GMFCS 1–5 | 4 weeks intensive; 1 year voluntary participation | High |
| 10 | Unnithan, 2007 | Complex programme: PRT and walking | Group; Greece | Cerebral palsy; I: 7; C: 6; 31%; range 14–18 years; GMFM (D&E) ∼30% | 12 weeks; – | High |
Organised by the study design.