ENERGY COST OF WALKING AND OF WHEELCHAIR PROPULSION BY CHILDREN WITH MYELODYSPLASIA: COMPARISON WITH NORMAL CHILDREN

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The O2 consumption of 15 myelodysplastic children during walking and propelling a wheelchair was studied. In comparison to normal children, they walked slower and consumed more O2 per meter, but had a similar rate of O2 consumption. A swing-through gait pattern was 33% more energy-efficient than a 4-point gait pattern for these children. Wheelchair propulsion produced velocities and energy efficiencies similar to normal children walking. O2 consumption and velocity measurements were significantly related to the clinical factors of level of lesion and strength of hip and knee extension. Regression lines and equations are presented to permit prediction of energy cost and efficiency from heart-rate data of myelodysplastic children.