Descriptive Report of the Impact of Fatigue and Current Management Strategies in Cerebral Palsy

Purpose: To describe the effect of fatigue and self-management practices for adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy. Methods: A survey of 124 people with cerebral palsy with the Fatigue Impact and Severity Self-Assessment. Results: Participants in Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level I experienced little effect of fatigue, with high proportions of this group disagreeing to statements about fatigue impacting their general activities, mobility, and social activities. Participants in GMFCS levels II to V reported effect of fatigue on activities. Differences between groups were evident in questions related to fatigue interference with length of time for physical activity and with motivations to participate in social activities. All other items related to management of fatigue were not significantly different between groups. Conclusions: Fatigue effect is greater for participants with more functional limitations. The lack of significant differences between groups, on the Management and Activity Modification subscale, indicates more research is needed regarding strategies for fatigue management.