Physiological Response to the 6-Minute Frame Running Test in Children and Adults With Cerebral Palsy

PURPOSETo determine the physiological response and association to peak oxygen uptake of the 6-minute Frame Running test (6-MFRT) in persons with cerebral palsy (CP). METHODSTwenty-four participants with CP, Gross Motor Function Classification System II/III/IV, performed the 6-MFRT. Distance, peak heart rate (HR peak ), peak respiratory exchange ratio (RER peak ), and peak oxygen uptake ( O 2peak ) were measured. RESULTSHR peak ranged from 146 to 201 beats per minute, RER peak from 0.94 to 1.49, 6-MFRT distance from 179 to 1220 m and O 2peak from 0.62 to 2.18 L/min. HR peak was achieved in 63%, RER peak in 71%. A strong correlation was observed between 6-MFRT and O 2peak . CONCLUSIONSThe 6-MFRT represented a (near) maximum effort for 75% of the participants and the 6-MFRT can be used to estimate oxygen consumption on an individual basis.