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

, , , and . Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 79 (8): 991--993 (August 1998)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: 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. DESIGN: Nonrandomized control trial. SETTING: Referred care center. SUBJECTS: Twelve men with CP who were independent in daily life and 7 able-bodied control volunteers. INTERVENTION: Cardiorespiratory endurance of the subjects was measured with an arm ergometer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Oxygen consumption (VO2), heart rate (HR), and physical working capacity (PWC) measured during arm ergometer rotation. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.

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