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Updated: May 1, 2026
Calculating Heart Rate Variability from ECG Data from Youth with Cerebral Palsy During Active Video Game Sessions
Published on: June 5, 2019
Heart rate and heart rate variability parameters at rest, during activity and passive standing among children with
Hadas Israeli-Mendlovic1, Joseph Mendlovic, Michal Katz-Leurer
1Physical Therapy Department, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Professions, Tel-Aviv University , Israel and.
Insights
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level IV showed altered heart rate and heart rate variability with activity, unlike those with GMFCS V. This suggests potential for autonomic system training in GMFCS IV.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Cardiology
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) significantly impacts motor function, affecting autonomic nervous system regulation.
- Understanding heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) responses in CP is crucial for assessing autonomic function.
- Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels IV and V represent severe motor impairments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare resting, active, and passive standing HR and HRV in children with CP (GMFCS IV-V).
- To investigate the association between daily physical activity and HRV in this population.
- To identify potential differences in autonomic regulation based on CP severity.
Main Methods:
- Thirty children (aged 6-12) with CP (GMFCS IV-V) participated.
- HR and HRV were measured during rest, Gross Motor Functional Measure (GMFM) assessment, a repeated high-intensity task, and passive standing.
- Parental reports on habitual physical activity over 4 months were collected.
Main Results:
- Children with GMFCS IV exhibited increased HR and decreased HRV during active and passive tasks, unlike GMFCS V.
- Physical activity levels were limited and similar across GMFCS levels.
- No significant correlation was found between activity level and HR or HRV parameters.
Conclusions:
- Autonomic cardiac regulation, specifically HR and HRV, responded to stimuli only in children with GMFCS IV CP.
- This suggests that the autonomic nervous system in GMFCS IV children may be amenable to training interventions.
- Further research could explore targeted exercise programs to improve autonomic function in this group.
Aims:
To describe and compare heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) at rest, during active movements and passive standing among children with cerebral palsy (CP), with Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels IV and V, and to describe the association between daily physical activity and HRV.
Methods:
Thirty children with CP were included aged 6-12 years. HR and HRV parameters were recorded during rest, during Gross Motor Functional Measure (GMFM) assessment, during two minutes of repeated performance of the highest activity achieved in the GMFM, and during passive standing. Parents were asked to inform about any habitual physical activities their child participates outside school in the previous 4 months.
Results:
Children with GMFCS IV increased their HR and reduced HRV values during the GMFM assessment, the repeated task and during passive standing, while no such effect was noted among children with GMFCS V. Children participated in a limited range of activities with a median frequency of three times a week (range 1-6 times), with insignificant differences between GMFCS levels. No significant differences were noted in HR or HRV parameters based on activity level.
Conclusions:
Only children with GMFCS IV responded to passive and active manipulation of the cardiac autonomic system. This may imply that the HR autonomic regulation system has an opportunity to be influenced by training in this group of children.
