Abstract
Aim: To assess heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) at rest, during exercise and during the recovery phase post-exercise in children at the chronic phase post-severe TBI as compared to age-matched typically-developed (TD) controls.
Setting: Out-patient clinic.
Participants: Ten children (two girls, eight boys), 3–5 years post-severe TBI, aged 7–11 years with residual deficits and 20 TD children matched for age.
Interventions: HR and HRV were determined at rest, during step test for 3 minutes, during walking on a treadmill for 6 minutes and during the recovery periods post-exercise sessions.
Main outcome measures: HR and HRV parameters.
Results: Children post-TBI demonstrated higher mean HR values and lower HRV at rest compared to controls (p < 0.05). During exercise a significant increase in HR and significant decrease in HRV was noted in both groups. A significant interaction was noted (p < 0.01); HR and HRV parameters in response to exercise and to exercise cessation were significantly lower among children post-TBI as compared to the controls.
Conclusions: The findings of this study show that, in children, post-severe TBI at the chronic phase, the cardiac autonomic system is less efficient at rest and less adaptive to exercise and activity as compared to TD children.
Declaration of interest
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.