Methods för evaluation of the physical working capacity of school children with cerebral palsy

Summary Application to children with cerebral palsy of ordinary physical working capacity tests involving standardized work on bicycle ergo‐meters is not possible since the handicap of such children involves poor neuromotor control. The work load perförmed will vary since the involontary movements and tensions also are oxygen‐consuming and varying. The mechanical efficiency also changes considerably in such subjects, even at the same load in the same individual on different occasions. Thus, direct measurements of oxygen consumption during work is the only solution. However, due to mouth involvement, it is often difficult to perförm air collection, in subjects with cerebral palsy particularly at maximal work intensity. A simple rubber membrane was thereföre made which facilitated air collection in children with cerebral palsy. A graphical method which correlated oxygen uptake to heart rate at two or more submaximal levels was also developed. för a rough estimate of the maximal oxygen uptake in subjects where direct determinations were not possible, extrapolation of the line to the maximal heart rate, individually determined, was done. Training of these inactive subjects could change the original line in two ways. An improved muscular perförmance with respect to strength and technique, the “muscle” effect, seemed to increase the maximal heart rate and extended the line; a higher oxygen capacity, the “oxygen” effect, raised the original line, i.e. an increased oxygen uptake at a given heart rate was demonstrated. Either effect alone or the effects in combination increased the maximal