Oxygen consumption in cerebral palsy

Abstract

Oxygen consumption is a measure of aerobic fitness and the body's ability to deliver oxygen for energy generation during exercise. Oxygen consumption can be measured directly or indirectly. To measure oxygen consumption, breath by breath measurements of the oxygen inspired and the carbon dioxide exhaled are measured by specialized equipment. For other indirect measures, heart rate or distance walked/ran during exercise are used in regression equations to estimate oxygen consumption. Examples of such measures of oxygen consumption and energy expenditure are shuttle runs/rides, stair climbing tests, 6 min walk tests, 1 min walking tests, and mechanical energy estimation. Regardless of age children, adolescents and adults diagnosed with cerebral palsy have decreased physical activity and increased energy, oxygen cost and oxygen consumption (measured with direct and indirect methods) when walking compared to ablebodied persons. Decreases in physical activity may increase the risk of cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary compromise in children and adults diagnosed with cerebral palsy and these impairments may contribute to further decreases in physical activities. However, surgical interventions (single event multi-level surgeries, and Rhizotomy) and therapy have been reported to increase walking distances and decrease energy expended when walking for persons diagnosed with cerebral palsy.