The Use of a Wheelchair Propulsion Field Test to Determine Peak Heart Rate in Children and Adolescents With Myelomeningocele

• Published in: Pediatric exercise science Vol. 30; no. 2; p. 251
• Main Authors: Leonardi-Figueiredo, Marisa Maia, de Souza, Mariana Angélica, Lizzi, Elisangela Aparecida da Silva, de Oliveira, Luciano Fonseca Lemos, Crescencio, Julio Cesar, Schwartzmann, Pedro Vellosa, Gallo, Jr, Lourenço, Mattiello-Sverzut, Ana Claudia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.2018
• Subjects: Adolescent; Child; Ergometry; Exercise Test; Female; Heart Rate; Humans; Male; Meningomyelocele - physiopathology; Wheelchairs; meningomyelocele; arm ergometry tests; fitness testing; exercise test; child
• ISSN: 1543-2920
• DOI: 10.1123/pes.2017-0094

We analyzed the evolution and pattern of heart rate (HR) during the 12-minute wheelchair propulsion field test (WPFT) and compared the peak HR (HR ) from the WPFT to the HR obtained in the progressive cardiopulmonary exercise test on arm cranking ergometer (ACT). We aimed to determine if the field test detects the HR consistently and could be used in clinical practice. Eleven wheelchair-using children and adolescents with myelomeningocele (aged 8-15 y) performed a maximal ACT and a 12-minute WPFT. HR was recorded continuously at rest, during each minute of the tests, and at recovery. Mixed analysis of variance was used to compare the variables at rest and peak. Bland-Altman plot and Lin's concordance correlation coefficient were used to show agreement between the tests. During minute 2 of the WPFT, participants reached 73%-96% of the HR values recorded in the ACT. From minutes 4 to 12, participants reached HR values ranging 86%-109% of the values recorded in the ACT. There is agreement between the ACT and the WPFT tests. WPFT with minimal duration of 4 minutes may be an alternative tool to obtain HR in children and adolescents with myelomeningocele.