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Published on: February 1, 2018
Energy cost of the case Western reserve standing neuroprosthesis
George P Forrest1, Thomas C Smith, Ronald J Triolo
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA. forresg@mail.amc.edu
Objective:
To determine the oxygen consumption of a person with C7 American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grade B tetraplegia using the Case Western Reserve/Veterans Administration (CWRU/VA) standing neuroprosthesis.
Design:
Measure the oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production of a person with C7 ASIA grade B tetraplegia at rest, standing in the parallel bars with the CWRU/VA system on, ambulating in the parallel bars, and transferring from a wheelchair to a mat with the system on.
Setting:
University medical center.
Participant:
A 26-year-old man with C7 ASIA grade B tetraplegia. The subject was a recipient of the CWRU/VA standing neuroprosthesis.
Interventions:
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measures:
Measurement of oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production using a metabolic cart.
Results:
Oxygen consumption of the subject was 1.22mL.kg(-1).min(-1) at rest. It was 4.7mL.kg(-1).min(-1) while standing in the parallel bars, 7.2mL.kg(-1).min(-1) while ambulating in the parallel bars, and 7.9mL.kg(-1).min(-1) when transferring from a wheelchair to a mat.
Conclusions:
Oxygen consumption of the subject when using the system is about 2 metabolic equivalent units, which is compatible with sustained use of the system for standing.
