Physiological effects of a sports rehabilitation program on cerebral palsied and post-poliomyelitic adolescents.

Thirty-four spastic cerebral palsied (CP) post-poliomyelitic (P) adolescents (mean age--17.9 years) participated in a twice-a-week mild conditioning program, lasting 12 months. Nine CP adolescents served as a control inactive group. The post-conditioning submaximal heart rates of the CP active group were significantly lower during 75 and 150 kpm/min work loads on an arm ergometer, compared with the respective values at the beginning of the program. Peak O2 uptake values, directly measured during an all-out arm pedalling test, were improved by some 8% in the CP active group. Neither CP inactive nor P active showed any significant changes attributable to conditioning in physiological variables obtained during the submaximal or maximal tests. Adiposity level of each of the three groups remained unchanged. The mechanical efficiency of all subjects was low (16.2%) and remained so following conditioning.