Cardiac autonomic system response to submaximal test in children with cerebral palsy

Aim: To describe the heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability at rest, during a submaximal treadmill test and at rest posttreadmill in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: Twenty children (6-11 years) with CP participated, who had Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I to III. The HR was monitored for 5 minutes seated, during a submaximal treadmill test, and after 5 minutes rest posttreadmill. Outcome variables were HR and the square root of the mean squared differences of successive differences between adjacent heart beats (RMSSD). Results: HR increased during the last stage of the treadmill test compared with rest. RMSSD was reduced during the last 2 minutes of the treadmill test compared with rest. The HR and RMSSD mean value at the second minute posttest were not significantly different from the pretreadmill rest value. Interpretation: The cardiac system in children with CP responded to the submaximal testing.