title: Determining metabolic equivalent values of physical activities for persons with paraplegia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The compendium of physical activity (CPA) may not be appropriate for persons with paraplegia (PP) because of their possible low resting metabolic rate (RMR), or 1 MET, and a lack of physical activities (PAs) engaged by PP in the CPA. A CPA supplement, therefore, is needed. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of constructing a short supplement for PP with two specific aims: to determine whether PP need an alternative 1-MET value and if selected PA can be classified into corresponding categories based on their 'engagement' and 'energy expenditure (EE)' characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one PP (161.26 cm +/- 22.99 cm, 60.52 kg +/- 15.32 kg, and 24.16 +/- 6.25 years) were recruited. RMR and 10 PA with different intensities were measured using indirect calorimetry. The z- and t-tests were employed to examine MET difference between the measured values and those of CPA (alpha = 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  One-MET for PP (3.1 mL/kg/min) was lower than that of the CPA (3.5 mL/kg/min). Although some MET values were found to be similar to those in the CPA, others were statistically significantly different.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To be able to measure PA-related EE of a disability subpopulation using the CPA accurately, a supplement that accounts for the impact of different types of activities and the EE characteristics of the subpopulation must be developed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Exercise Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA. miyoung.lee@oregonstate.edu
authors.forename: Miyoung
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Weimo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Brad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hedrick
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fernhall
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055686:Metabolic Equivalent; D009043:Motor Activity; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000378:metabolism*