title: Aerobic fitness and skewness of frequency distribution of continuously measured heart rate in adults with brain injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Determinant factors of aerobic fitness have not been clearly demonstrated in individuals with brain injury.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between aerobic fitness and gender, age, intensity and total duration of aerobic physical activity, and skewness of the frequency distribution of 6-h continuous heart rate values in a larger sample of adults with brain injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional and correlative study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research laboratory setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen adult women and 20 adult men with cerebral palsy or stroke participated in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  VO2max was estimated using the multistage submaximal cycle ergometer test. Heart rate was recorded continuously for 6 h on a weekday. Relationships between predicted VO2max and gender, age, intensity and total duration of aerobic physical activity, skewness of frequency distribution, and average heart rate over 6 h were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences were seen in predicted VO2max between genders (P < 0.05). Predicted VO2max correlated significantly only with the skewness of the frequency distribution of values for continuous heart rate (r = -0.53, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that brief and frequent physical activity may also improve aerobic fitness in adults with brain injury.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan - a-y-satonaka@me.ccnw.ne.jp.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Satonaka
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawamura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation