Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026
Soft Hip Exoskeleton Reduces Physiological Cost and Perceived Exertion In Older Adults During Uphill Walking
Published on: June 9, 2026
Energy expenditure during rest and treadmill gait training in quadriplegic subjects
1Orthopaedics Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil.
Study Design:
The analysis of oxygen uptake (VO(2)) and energy consumption in quadriplegics after 6 months of treadmill gait with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES).
Objectives:
To compare metabolic responses in quadriplegics after 6 months of treadmill training, with NMES (30-50% body weight relief), with quadriplegics who did not perform gait.
Setting:
Ambulatory of University Hospital, Brazil.
Methods:
Quadriplegics were separated into gait and control groups (CGs). On inclusion, all subjects performed VO(2) test. In the gait group (GG) (n=11), the protocol consisted of 8 min of rest, 10 min of treadmill walking using NMES and 10 min of recovery. In the CG (n=10), testing consisted of 8 min rest, 15 min of quadriceps endurance exercise in sitting position with NMES and 10 min recovery. VO(2), carbon dioxide production (VCO(2)) and energy consumption were measured. The GG performed 6 months of treadmill training, using NMES, for 20 min, twice a week. The CG did not practice any activity with NMES, performing conventional physiotherapy only; the CG was stimulated only during the cardiorespiratory test.
Results:
All parameters increased significantly for the GG: 36% for VO(2) (l/min), 43% for VCO(2) (l/min) and 32.5% for energy consumption (J/kg/s). For the CG, during knee extension exercise, VO(2) increased without changes in the energy consumption (P<0.05); smaller values were obtained for all parameters when compared to those obtained during gait.
Conclusions:
Quadriplegic gait was efficient towards increasing VO(2) and energy consumption, which can decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
