Energy cost of physical activities in persons with spinal cord injury

The objectives of this descriptive study were (a) to determine the energy expenditure of activities commonly performed by individuals with a spinal cord injury (SCI) and summarize this information and (b) to measure resting energy expenditure and establish the value of 1 MET for individuals with SCI.

One-hundred seventy adults with SCI were partitioned by gender, anatomical level of SCI, and American Spinal Injury Association designations for motor function. Twenty-seven physical activities, 12 recreational/sport and 15 daily living, were performed, while energy expenditure was measured continuously via a COSMED K4b portable metabolic system. In addition, 66 adult males with SCI completed 30 min of supine resting energy testing in a quiet environment.

Results for the 27 measured activities are reported in kilocalories per minute (kcal·min(-1)) and VO2 (mL·min(-1) and mL·kg(-1)·min(-1)). One MET for a person with SCI should be adjusted using 2.7 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1). Using 2.7 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1), the MET range for persons in the motor incomplete SCI group was 1.17 (supported standing) to 6.22 (wheeling on grass), and 2.26 (billiards) to 16.25 (hand cycling) for activities of daily living and fitness/recreation, respectively. The MET range for activities of daily living for persons in the group with motor complete SCI was 1.27 (dusting) to 4.96 (wheeling on grass) and 1.47 (bait casting) to 7.74 (basketball game) for fitness/recreation.

The foundation for a compendium of energy expenditure for physical activities for persons with SCI has been created with the completion of this study. In the future, others will update and expand the content of this compendium as has been the case with the original compendium for the able-bodied.