Health-related physical fitness of adolescents and young adults with myelomeningocele

Abstract

To assess components of health-related physical Wtness in adolescents and young adults with myelomeningocele (MMC), and to study relations between aerobic capacity and other health-related physical Wtness components. This cross-sectional study included 50 adolescents and young adults with MMC, aged 16-30 years (25 males). Aerobic capacity was quantiWed by measuring peak oxygen uptake (peakVO 2 ) during a maximal exercise test on a cycle or arm ergometer depending on the main mode of ambulation. Muscle strength of upper and lower extremity muscles was assessed using a hand-held dynamometer. Regarding Xexibility, we assessed mobility of hip, knee and ankle joints. Body composition was assessed by measuring thickness of four skin-folds. Relations were studied using linear regression analyses. Average peakVO 2 was 1.48 § 0.52 l/ min, 61% of the participants had subnormal muscle strength, 61% had mobility restrictions in at least one joint and average sum of four skin-folds was 74.8 § 38.8 mm. PeakVO 2 was signiWcantly related to gender, ambulatory status and muscle strength, explaining 55% of its variance. Adolescents and young adults with MMC have poor healthrelated physical Wtness. Gender and ambulatory status are important determinants of peakVO 2 . In addition, we found a small, but signiWcant relationship between peakVO 2 and muscle strength.

Exercise Prescription Using a Group‐Normalized Rating of Perceived Exertion in Adolescents and Adults With Spina Bifida

“…The identification of a group‐normalized WHEEL Scale RPE approximating the individualized Vpt provides a prescriptive reference on which to develop an exercise program that provides an overload aerobic exercise training stimulus. It is especially important that the SB population has a means of initiating, monitoring, and self‐regulating an aerobic exercise program throughout their lifespan due to generally poor health‐related aerobic fitness [33] and greater risk for obesity and obesity related conditions (eg, CVD, metabolic syndrome) that typify this population [6–8]. For instance, Buffart et al [8] found in young adults and adolescents with myelomeningocele, aerobic fitness was the only risk factor that showed a significant negative association with CVD risk.…”

“…Many studies involving people with clinical conditions that limit ambulation exclude wheelchair users. However, the SB population is comparatively less physically active and at greater risk for CVD and obesity as they age [6,14,33]. As such, fitness assessment and exercise prescription are valuable clinical adjuncts to treating individuals with SB who are primary wheelchair users.…”

Research on the Effect of Physical Fitness Evaluation Model for Physical Exercise Evaluation

“…Movement duration is the accumulation of the amount of a certain intensity exercise. For the development of physical fitness, only to achieve a certain amount of exercise intensity of the accumulation of time is effective [3][4][5][6].…”

Orthopädische Behandlung bei Myelomeningozele

“…Zusätzlich müssen Muskel-und Koordinationstraining intensiver erfolgen [19,38], da diese vor allem bei hohen Lähmungen frakturprophylaktisch wirken. Ob die Elektrotherapie einen unterstützenden Effekt auf die Muskelkraft hat, ist aufgrund der Datenlage nicht zu beantworten [39].…”