Cardiorespiratory fitness in term of estimated vo2 max of children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Background: Cerebral Palsy is a physically disabling condition limiting the physical activities caused by lesion in developing brain. Cardiorespiratory fitness is the important physiological variable in children with CP but they are more likely to have decreased cardiorespiratory fitness compared to their typically-developing peers. Objectives: To determine cardiorespiratory fitness in term of estimated VO2 max of Cerebral Palsy children. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 95 cerebral palsy children with GMFCS I, II, III were recruited and the participants were instructed to walk at their own pace as fast as possible for 2 minutes during 2MWT. Distance walked, heart rates and Borg RPE were calculated at different phase 2MWT. Results: Children with CP have a poor cardiorespiratory fitness with lower level of VO2 max than normal child of same age group. There was no significantly difference in cardiorespiratory fitness of male and female in term of calculated VO2 max. However, female of age group 10-12 years has comparably better cardiorespiratory fitness than boys and more than half of the children with CP participant have a risk of developing Cardiovascular problem as determined by heart rate recovery. Conclusion: Cardiorespiratory fitness was significantly poor in CP children than health children of same age and more than 50% have a risk of cardiorespiratory problems. Cardiorespiratory fitness doesn’t affect locomotory capacity but heart rate recovery and heart rate reserve show high association with VO2 max. Keywords: Cerebral palsy, Cardiorespiratory fitness, VO2 max