A stair-climbing test for ambulatory assessment of children with cerebral palsy

Gait & Posture
Simona Bar-HaimAlexander Frank

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop a stair-climbing test to measure energy cost (EC) and mechanical efficiency (ME) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) to evaluate ambulation-related motor function and its changes after intervention or maturation. Five normally developed (ND) and 10 children with CP were tested. The gross ME (MEg) was calculated from the work done (W) and the total energy cost (oxygen consumption) measured while repeatedly ascending and descending four steps for approximately 5 min without subtracting the resting metabolic rate. The MEg was significantly lower in CP than ND (3% versus 20%, P < 0.001). The test was repeated in the 10 children with CP after a 4-month therapy recess. The MEg values correlated with the initial tests, with a small, significant increase of 2%. When calculating net ME (MEn) from W and the energy cost above resting, the correlation of MEn values before and after therapy was inferior to that using MEg values. Similarly, individual ME values obtained by estimating energy cost from the increase in heart rate (HR) during stair-climbing also correlated poorly, with large variability. These results show that MEg may be used to evaluate changes in motor function resulting from age-rela...Continue Reading

References

Jun 1, 1985·Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise·K R Williams
Nov 27, 1999·Gait & Posture·R L Waters, S Mulroy
Dec 10, 1999·Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology·R BoydK Graham

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Citations

Nov 20, 2009·Pediatric Physical Therapy : the Official Publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy Association·Simona Bar-HaimMark Belokopytov
Feb 21, 2009·Disability and Rehabilitation·S Bar-HaimJ Kaplanski
Aug 13, 2014·Disability and Rehabilitation·Netta HarriesUNKNOWN MESF Project
Mar 6, 2012·The Journal of Arthroplasty·Charlie A Hicks-LittleMitchell L Cordova
Apr 13, 2006·Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology·Simona Bar-HaimEli Lahat
Mar 12, 2016·Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation·Ah Young LeeSang Ho Ahn
Jun 26, 2010·Clinical Rehabilitation·Simona Bar-HaimUNKNOWN MERC project

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