Influence of functional mobility on the aerobic fitness of children and adolescents with spina bifida

Abstract

Spina bifida (EB) is a congenital condition characterized by neural tissue damage, which occurs due to defects in neural tube closure and causes damage to motor innervation below the level where closure failure occurred. Due to this reduction in motor skills, patients with EB have a reduction in physical activity and, as a consequence, a reduction in aerobic fitness. However, the relationship between aerobic fitness and functional mobility, classified according to the functional mobility scale (FMS), was not evaluated in this group. Thus, the present study aims to compare the performance of patients with EB and different levels of functional mobility, classified by the FMS scale, in the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), using the outcome variables peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak), peak power reached (Wpeak) and distance traveled. Therefore, a retrospective study will be carried out, composed of a sample of 44 patients and a prospective study composed of 20 patients with EB followed up at the Children's Neurological Outpatient Clinic (NRI) and Spina Bifida Physiotherapy (FIC 156) of the Rehabilitation Center of the Hospital as Clínicas da Faculdade of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (CER-HC-FMRP-USP). The retrospective study will include patients evaluated from March 2017 to March 2020, who have data from weight, height, functional mobility, and CPET assessments. Patients who will compose the prospective study group will be evaluated from August 2022 to August 2023 regarding weight and height, functional mobility (FMS scale), and CPET. All patients will be grouped based on the score received in the 5-meter distance (home) of the FMS scale and their performance on the CPET compared. Data normality will be tested and descriptive statistical analysis will be presented, mean and standard deviation (mean-SD) or median and confidence interval (95%CI), and the parametric one-way ANOVA test or its non-parametric equivalent Test test Kruskal-Wallis will be used for inter-group analytical analysis. All analyzes will be performed in SPSS® software (version 23) and the significance level will be considered at 5%. (AU)