Treadmill exercise test in short children.

Fifty nine children of short stature exercised for 10 minutes on a non-motorised treadmill. In 49 a growth hormone concentration of greater than 15 mU/l was reached, effectively excluding growth hormone deficiency. In 10 children the growth hormone concentration failed to reach 15 mU/l; growth hormone deficiency was confirmed in seven by a subsequent insulin tolerance test. The optimal time for blood sampling was five minutes after the end of the exercise. It was possible to use the test for very young and very short children.