The effect of simulating weight gain on the energy cost of walking in unimpaired children and children with cerebral palsy.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of simulating weight gain on the energy cost of walking in children with cerebral palsy (CP) compared with unimpaired children.


METHODS
Repeated measures, matched subjects, controlled.


METHODS
University hospital clinical gait and movement analysis laboratory.


METHODS
Children (n=42) with CP and unimpaired children (n=42).


METHODS
Addition of 10% of body mass in weight belt.


METHODS
Energy cost of walking parameters consisting of walking speed, Physiological Cost Index, Total Heart Beat Index, oxygen uptake (VO2), gross oxygen cost, nondimensional net oxygen cost, and net oxygen cost with speed normalized to height were measured by using a breath-by-breath gas analysis system (K4b2) and a light beam timing gate system arranged around a figure 8 track. Two walking trials were performed in random order, with and the other without wearing a weighted belt.


RESULTS
Children with CP and their unimpaired counterparts responded in fundamentally different ways to weight gain. The unimpaired population maintained speed and VO2 but the children with CP trended toward a drop in their speed and an increase in their VO2. The oxygen consumption of children with CP showed a greater dependence on mass than the unimpaired group (P=.043).


CONCLUSIONS
An increase of a relatively small percentage in body mass began to significantly impact the energy cost of walking in children with CP. This result highlights the need for weight control to sustain the level of functional walking in these children.
Plasschaert
Frank
F
Movement Analysis Laboratory, University Hospital, Faculty of Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Technology, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium. frank.plasschaert@UGent.be
Jones
Kim
K
Forward
Malcolm
M
D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D016138:Walking; D015430:Weight Gain