Sprint-Intensity Arm Interval Training May Improve Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Cardiometabolic Health Among Children With Mobility Disabilities: Case Report.

Background: There are limited options for aerobic exercise options that improve cardiorespiratory fitness and manage cardiometabolic health that are also age-appropriate and suitable for children with mobility disabilities. Children with disabilities require exercise programs that incorporate adapted movements to meet various functional needs, which offer brief training durations to accommodate busy schedules and use remote training methods at home to bypass logistical transportation barriers.

Objective: The aim of this study is to test the potential effects and safety of a sprint-intensity arm-exercise interval training program, combined with music and telehealth, on cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiometabolic health in a child with cerebral palsy.

Methods: This study was a 12-week exercise intervention from pretrial to posttrial for a single child with cerebral palsy (male, age 17 y). The intervention was conducted at the participant's homes. The participant exercised 3 times per week while following along with YouTube exercise videos. Videos included 4-second maximal sprint bouts followed by periods of rest, which were repeated 30 times during a single exercise session (total of ~2 minutes of maximal exercise). Exercise sessions were supervised by research staff using videoconferencing. Cardiorespiratory fitness was indicated by peak oxygen consumption (pVO2), which was measured by a portable metabolic cart during a graded exercise test. Cardiometabolic health outcomes included body composition by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scan and a cardiometabolic blood profile by a dried blood spot test. Outcomes were descriptively analyzed.

Results: The participant achieved a 33.6% increase in pVO2 (14.6 to 19.5 mL/kg-1/min-1), a 37.8% improvement in blood triglycerides (82 to 51 mg/dL), and a 15.4% improvement in the total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein ratio (6.5 to 5.5). Additionally, he had a 5.9% reduction in body weight (171 to 161 lbs) and a 9.6% reduction in total body fat (61.35 to 55.48 lbs) from the arms, legs, and trunk. The participant experienced no adverse events or problems during the intervention. After completing the program, the participant elicited a maximal intensity of exercise using armbands, as demonstrated through pVO2.

Conclusions: Sprint-intensity interval training that uses the arms may be safe and potentially effective for enhancing cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiometabolic health in children with physical disabilities. Further research is needed to verify the outcomes of this case report.