Energy expenditure during rest and treadmill gait training in quadriplegic subjects

Study design:The analysis of oxygen uptake (VO2) and energy consumption in quadriplegics after 6 months of treadmill gait with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES).Objectives:To compare metabolic responses in quadriplegics after 6 months of treadmill training, with NMES (30–50% body weight relief), with quadriplegics who did not perform gait.Setting:Ambulatory of University Hospital, Brazil.Methods:Quadriplegics were separated into gait and control groups (CGs). On inclusion, all subjects performed VO2 test. In the gait group (GG) (n=11), the protocol consisted of 8 min of rest, 10 min of treadmill walking using NMES and 10 min of recovery. In the CG (n=10), testing consisted of 8 min rest, 15 min of quadriceps endurance exercise in sitting position with NMES and 10 min recovery. VO2, carbon dioxide production (VCO2) and energy consumption were measured. The GG performed 6 months of treadmill training, using NMES, for 20 min, twice a week. The CG did not practice any activity with NMES, performing conventional physiotherapy only; the CG was stimulated only during the cardiorespiratory test.Results:All parameters increased significantly for the GG: 36% for VO2 (l/min), 43% for VCO2 (l/min) and 32.5% for energy consumption (J/kg/s). For the CG, during knee extension exercise, VO2 increased without changes in the energy consumption (P<0.05); smaller values were obtained for all parameters when compared to those obtained during gait.Conclusions:Quadriplegic gait was efficient towards increasing VO2 and energy consumption, which can decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases.