Stair stepping efficiency of mentally handicapped and nonhandicapped adult females.
Net efficiency for stair stepping was compared between 15 mentally handicapped (MH) and 15 nonhandicapped (NH) women of comparable chronological age. Efficiency was computed as the percentage of the energy output divided by the energy expenditure. Energy expenditure was assessed by the performance of subjects on a double stair stepping apparatus, stepping at three work rates (14, 17, and 19 asc/min), repeated on four test days. Open-circuit spirometric techniques were used to measure oxygen uptake. The three-way (Group x Stepping Rates x Days) repeated measures ANOVA indicated that: (1) NH women stepped more efficiently than MH women (p less than 0.01). Mean stepping efficiency was 17.1% for the NH group, and 15.6% for the MH group; (2) MH women did not show improvement in stepping efficiency over the four days, although there was a 20% increase in the number of MH subjects capable of completing the fastest stepping rate over the four days; and (3) MH subjects were more efficient at 17 and 19 asc/min than at 14 asc/min.
Seidl
C
C
Montgomery
D
D
Reid
G
G
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D010807:Physical Endurance; D010809:Physical Fitness