title: Effect of exercise at the AT point for children with cerebral palsy.
abstract: Eleven children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) who could walk underwent exercise at the anaerobic threshold (AT) point. The subjects exercised for 20 minutes per session, twice a week for a period ranging from 6 to 20 weeks. The subjects were divided into two groups. The leg exercise group contained six CP children who exercised on a cycle ergometer with average attendance of 1.8 days a week. The other five CP children constituted the arm exercise group and exercised using an arm cranking ergometer with average attendance of 1.5 days per week. After the exercise period, the oxygen uptake (VO2) at the AT point increased significantly in the children in the leg exercise group. On the other hand, the VO2 at the AT point did not change in children in the arm exercise group. These results demonstrate that cycle ergometer exercise at the AT point is effective in improving the physical endurance of children with CP. In contrast, arm exercises for children with CP seem to have little effect on increasing physical endurance.
authors.affiliation: Izu Iryo-Fukushi Center for Children's Rehabilitation, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Taka-aki
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Shinohara
authors.forename: Nobuharu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Michinari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oba
authors.forename: Motoaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawasumi
authors.forename: Mamori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kimizuka
authors.forename: Katsumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mita
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold; D001132:Arm / Q000503:physiopathology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000503:physiopathology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010807:Physical Endurance; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking