Within- and between-day stability of treadmill walking VO2 in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, stability of walking VO2 in children with CP.
Within- and between-day stability in locomotor energy use was quantified in 13 children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP). During testing, subjects were familiarized with the laboratory environment (Session 1), performed three 5 min level treadmill walks (Trials 1-3) at 0.67 m*s(-1) (Session 2), and completed a single 5 min walk (Trial 4) at 0.67 m*s(-1) (Session 3). In Sessions 2 and 3, heart rate (HR) was assessed and expired air was collected and analyzed to determine VO2. Data analyses revealed no significant difference (P > 0.05) in either net VO2 (ml kg(-1)*min(-1)) or EEI(HR) (b*m(-1)) across the three trials performed in Session 2 and between average measures of net VO2 and EEI(HR) quantified in Session 2 and those obtained in Session 3. Mean within-day coefficient of variation (CV) values for net VO2 and EEI(HR) were 8.6% +/- 8.5% and 13.9% +/- 7.8%, respectively. Analysis of between-day variability and energy expenditure revealed a between-day CV value of 13.1% for net VO2 and 24.0% for EEI(HR). In addition, significant inverse relationships between Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) scores and within- (r = -0.61) and between-day (r = -0.58) CV values for net VO2 were detected. Viewed in concert, these data suggest that fairly stable within- and between-day measures of locomotor energy expenditure during level treadmill walking can be achieved in subjects with hemiplegic CP if testing is preceded by a short period of treadmill accommodation. However, children with greater motor dysfunction may require an extended period of treadmill accommodation to reduce trial-to-trial variability in walking energy use.
Keefer
Daniel J
DJ
Department of Wellness and Sport Sciences, Millersville University, 113 Pucillo Gymnasium, PO Box 1002, Millersville, PA 17551-0302, USA. dkeefer@millersville.edu
Tseh
Wayland
W
Caputo
Jennifer L
JL
Apperson
Kathy
K
McGreal
Sheri
S
Morgan
Don W
DW
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D011336:Probability; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*