Prediction of oxygen uptake during level treadmill walking in people with multiple sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the oxygen uptake (VO2) during walking at different speeds in people with multiple sclerosis is underestimated by available prediction equations and whether such underestimation relates to the validity of their assumptions.


METHODS
Cross-sectional comparison.


METHODS
Eighteen adults with MS and 18 adults without MS.


METHODS
VO2 was measured at rest and during treadmill walking at 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 mph with open-circuit spirometry. The actual VO2 was compared with that estimated by both the American College of Sports Medicine and the van der Walt and Wyndham equations.


RESULTS
The differences between the actual VO2 and that estimated by both equations were significantly higher than zero across speeds for both groups (p < 0.001). The underestimation increased with increasing speed (p < 0.001) for both groups and was greater for participants with MS than those without MS (p < 0.011). The inaccurate prediction by the American College of Sports Medicine formula was associated with an underestimation of the net VO2 per meter (p < 0.001), and this was higher for participants with MS (p < 0.007).


CONCLUSIONS
Rehabilitation and exercise professionals should recognize that the American College of Sports Medicine and the van der Walt and Wyndham equations underestimate VO2 during treadmill walking in individuals with and without MS.
Agiovlasitis
Stamatis
S
Department of Kinesiology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA. sagiovlasitis@colled.msstate.edu
Motl
Robert W
RW
Fernhall
Bo
B
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D011379:Prognosis; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology