Differential responses to measures of gait performance among healthy and neurologically impaired individuals.
OBJECTIVE
To compare gait during a 5-minute walk among healthy individuals, persons with spinal cord injury (SCI), and stroke survivors and to investigate whether simultaneous measures of oxygen consumption enhance information about performance.


METHODS
Descriptive study.


METHODS
Veterans Affairs medical center.


METHODS
Thirty-nine healthy individuals, 10 persons with SCI, and 20 stroke survivors.


METHODS
Participants were fitted with a portable gas analyzer and walked on a 5-m walkway for 5 minutes.


METHODS
Measures of walk distance, gait speed, gait energy expenditure (GEE), and gait cost were obtained, along with measures of ventilation (.Ve), ventilation and carbon dioxide production slope (.Ve . .VCo2), oxygen pulse, and heart rate.


RESULTS
The SCI group (127.65+/-81.74m) walked less than the stroke survivors (148.80+/-64.3m) or the healthy group (268.90+/-35.01m) but had higher energy demands, as shown by GEE (SCI group, 13.28+/-3.23mL.kg(-1).min(-1); stroke group, 10.18+/-2.14mL.kg(-1).min(-1); healthy group, 9.61+/-1.90mL.kg(-1).min(-1)) and by gait cost (SCI group,.57+/-.40 mL.kg(-1).m(-1); stroke group,.40+/-.52mL.kg(-1).m(-1); healthy group,.18+/-.02mL.kg(-1).m(-1)). Compared with the healthy group, the stroke group had higher .Ve (stroke group, 22.34+/-5.20L/min vs healthy group, 16.11+/-3.22L/min) and .Ve . .VCo2 slope (24.22+/-8.80 vs 18.73+/-5.44, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Use of metabolic assessment during the 5-minute walk was feasible and provided further information for evaluating gait performance with the subjects studied.
Teixeira da Cunha-Filho
Inácio
I
School of Physical Therapy, Texas Woman's University, Houston, TX, USA.
Henson
Helene
H
Qureshy
Huma
H
Williams
Amanda L
AL
Holmes
Sally A
SA
Protas
Elizabeth J
EJ
D000328:Adult; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*