ABSTRACT
To control for changes in body size during growth the 2peak (l/min) data were expressed as 2peak/kg (ml/kg/min), and compared to reference values
from age-and gender-matchedDutch controls (Binkhorst et al., 1992). The 2peak/kg values calculated for the subjects with CP were compared with 2peak/kg values from previously published studies that performed a maximal exercise test on a treadmill (Rieckert et al., 1977; Hoofwijk et al., 1995; Maltais et al., 2005). Based on the description of the subjects included in these three previously published studies the subjects have been classified according to the GMFCS levels. Statisticalcomparisons between children and adolescents with CP and reference values were tested using a paired samples T-test. Differences between subgroups (GMFCS I and GMFCS II; boys and girls) were tested using an independent samples T-test ($ = 0.05). 31.3 RESULTS
2peak/kg of boys with CP was significantly lower (44.7 ± 7.1 ml/kg/min) than that of typically developing controls (51.7 ±1.2 ml/kg/min). There was also a significant difference between the girls with CP (36.4 ±7.6 ml/kg/min) and their typically developing controls (44.7 ± 0.3 ml/kg/min). There was no significant difference in 2peak/kg between boys classified at GMFCS level I (44.6 ±6.3 ml/kg/min) and GMFCS level II (45.1 ±9.0 ml/kg/min). The 2peak/kg among girls classified at GMFCS level I and GMFCS level II was not significantly
different as well, 41.0 (±7.8 ml/kg/min) and 33.6 (±6.7 ml/kg/min) respectively (P>0.05). Table 31.2 summarizes the findings on 2peak/kg values in children and adolescents with CP who performed a maximal exercise test on a treadmill. The values found by Rieckert et al. (1977), Maltais et al. (2005) and Hoofwijk et al. (1995) are significantly lower than the present values.
