A comparison of oxygen pulse and respiratory exchange ratio in cerebral palsied and nondisabled children.

Energy expended while walking is increased for children with cerebral palsy compared to nondisabled children. This study compared oxygen uptake, oxygen pulse, and the respiratory exchange ratio (RER) in children with cerebral palsy and nondisabled children walking on a treadmill. Resting oxygen uptake and oxygen pulse values were not different in the two groups. At a given walking speed, oxygen uptake, oxygen pulse, and RER were higher for subjects with cerebral palsy. At a given level of submaximal oxygen uptake, oxygen pulse and RER values were not different in subjects with cerebral palsy compared to nondisabled children. It was concluded that the cardiorespiratory response to walking at submaximal level of work is not significantly different for children with cerebral palsy.