Cardiorespiratory endurance in people with cerebral palsy measured using an arm ergometer.

Abstract

To determine whether cardiorespiratory endurance, a component of physical fitness, in people with cerebral palsy (CP) is lower than that in able-bodied people, and whether the difference in locomotion of CP patients affects their cardiorespiratory endurance. Nonrandomized control trial. Referred care center. Twelve men with CP who were independent in daily life and 7 able-bodied control volunteers. Cardiorespiratory endurance of the subjects was measured with an arm ergometer. Oxygen consumption (VO2), heart rate (HR), and physical working capacity (PWC) measured during arm ergometer rotation. The 75%VO2max and 75%HRmax did not differ significantly between CP subjects and control subjects, or between ambulatory CP subjects and wheelchair-bound CP subjects. However, the PWC at 75%HRmax of the CP subjects was significantly lower than that of the control subjects. Cardiorespiratory endurance does not differ significantly between people with CP and able-bodied people. Type of locomotion does not affect cardiorespiratory endurance. However, the highest PWC performed by the CP subjects was significantly lower than that of the control subjects.