Abstract
The energy cost and gait parameters of 10 spinal cord injury patients (mean age = 21.7 ± 2.3 years) were measured at discharge from initial rehabilitation and at 1 year follow-up. At follow-up testing patients walked faster (59.5 m/minute vs 40.4 m/minutes; p < 0.001), more efficiently (0.26 ml O2/kg m vs 0.40 ml O2/kg m; p < 0.05), had slower heart rates (115 beats/minute vs 133 beats/minute; p < 0.01), and required decreased axial load on upper extremity assistive devices (18% body weight vs 26% body weight; p < 0.03).
At follow-up testing, those patients with remaining weakness in the lower limbs had greater conditioning effects (increased rate of oxygen consumption and oxygen pulse) than those patients with relatively stronger limbs. These findings indicate that clinicians can expect significant improvements in functional ambulation performance in the first year following initial rehabilitation due to improved strength and conditioning.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Astrand P O, Rodahl, K 1977 Textbook of Work Physiology, 2nd edn. McGraw-Hill, New York.
Beasley W C 1961 Quantitative muscle testing: principles and clinical application to research and clinical services. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 42: 398–425.
Chantraine A, Crielaard J M, Onkelinx A, Pirnay F 1984 Energy expenditure of ambulation in paraplegics: Effects of long term use of bracing. Paraplegia 22: 172–181.
Clinkingbeard J R, Jerome W G, Hoehn D 1964 Energy cost of ambulation in the traumatic paraplegic. American Journal of Physical Medicine 13: 157–165.
Gordon E E, Vanderwalde H 1956 Energy requirements in paraplegic ambulation. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 37: 276–285.
Huang C R, Kuhlemeier K V, Moore N B, Fine P R 1979 Energy cost of ambulation in paraplegic patients using Craig-Scott braces. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 60: 595–600.
Inman V T, Ralston H J, Todd F 1981 Human Walking. Waverly Press, Baltimore.
Kendall H O, Kendall F P, Wadsworth G E 1971 Muscles Testing and Function. Waverly Press, Baltimore.
McCardle C W, Katch F I, Victor K L 1986 Exercise Physiology, 2nd edn. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia.
Merkel K, Miller N, Merritt J 1985 Energy expenditure in patients with low-, mid-, or high- horacic paraplegia using Scott-Craig knee-ankle-foot orthoses. Mayo Clinic Proceedings 60: 165–168.
Waters R L, Barnes G, Husserl, T, Silver, L Liss, 1988 Comparable energy expenditure following arthrodesis of the hip and ankle. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 70: 1032–1037.
Waters R L, Hislop H J, Perry J, Antonelli, D: Energetics 1978 Application to the study and management of locomotor disabilities. Orthopaedic Clinics of North America 9: 351–377.
Waters R L, Lunsford, B 1985 Energy cost of paraplegic locomotion. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 67: 1245–1250.
Waters R L, Yakura J S, Adkins R, Barnes G 1989 Determinants of gait performance following spinal cord injury. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 70: 811–818
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yakura, J., Waters, R. & Adkins, R. Changes in ambulation parameters in spinal cord injury individuals following rehabilitation. Spinal Cord 28, 364–370 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1990.49
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1990.49
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
In vivo 31P NMR spectroscopy assessment of skeletal muscle bioenergetics after spinal cord contusion in rats
European Journal of Applied Physiology (2014)
-
Neurologische und funktionelle Erholung nach Querschnittl�hmung
Der Orthop�de (2005)