Abstract
Objective
This study examined aerobic capacity, upper leg muscular strength, and static postural
control as correlates of the energetic cost of walking (Cw) in moderate multiple sclerosis (MS) mobility disability.
Design
Cross-sectional study.
Setting
University-based laboratory.
Participants
Persons (N=44) with MS (aged 48.43±8.64 years) who have reached a benchmark of moderate
mobility disability (ie, Expanded Disability Status Scale scores between 4.0 and 6.0)
participated in the study.
Main Outcome Measures
Cw was based on (1) net oxygen consumption collected using a portable metabolic unit
and (2) walking speed during the 6-minute walk test. Participants underwent standard
assessments of peak aerobic capacity, upper leg muscular strength, and static postural
control.
Results
The data were analyzed using bivariate correlation and linear regression analyses.
Cw was inversely correlated with peak oxygen consumption (r=–.308, P<.05), peak power output (r=–.548, P<.00), and peak torque at 75° knee flexion (r=–.340, P<.05), whereas Cw was positively correlated center of pressure area sway (r=.319, P<.05), and mediolateral sway velocity (r=.411, P<.05). 40.3% of variance in Cw was explained by peak power output (β=–.526, P<.01) and mediolateral sway velocity (β=.339, P<.05).
Conclusion
Our findings demonstrate that aerobic power and postural sway may be important correlates
of Cw in moderate MS mobility disability. Peak power output reflects a person’s physiological
functional reserve that is directly relevant for understanding the penalty of walking
impairment on the energetic demands of walking. The association between mediolateral
postural sway and Cw suggests that mechanical inefficiency controlling the trajectory of the body’s center
of pressure during ambulation may contribute to the elevated Cw.
Keywords
List of abbreviations:
6MWT (6-Minute Walk test), COP (center of pressure), Cw (energetic cost of walking), EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Scale), MS (multiple sclerosis), PDDS (Patient Determined Disease Steps), V.o2 (oxygen consumption per unit time), Vo2peak (peak oxygen consumption)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 03, 2018
Footnotes
Disclosures: none.
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine
