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Oxygen Uptake During Exoskeletal-Assisted Walking in Persons With Paraplegia
Steven Knezevic1, Pierre K Asselin2, Christopher M Cirnigliaro3
1VA RR&D National Center for the Medical Consequences of Spinal Cord Injury, James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, New York; Department of Kinesiology, William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey.
Objective:
To determine the cardiometabolic demands associated with exoskeletal-assisted walking (EAW) in persons with paraplegia. This study will further examine if training in the device for 60 sessions modifies cost of transport (CT).
Design:
Prospective cohort study. Measurements over the course of a 60-session training program, approximately 20 sessions apart.
Setting:
James J. Peters Bronx Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Center for the Medical Consequences of Spinal Cord Injury Research Center.
Participants:
The participants' demographics (N=5) were 37-61 years old, body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) of 22.7-28.6, level of injury from T1-T11, and 2-14 years since injury.
Interventions:
Powered EAW.
Main Outcome Measures:
Oxygen consumption per unit time (V˙O2, mL/min/kg), velocity (m/min), cost of transport (V˙O2/velocity), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE).
Results:
With training: EAW velocity significantly improved (Pre: 51±51m; 0.14±0.14m/s vs Post: 99±42m; 0.28±0.12m/s, P=.023), RPE significantly decreased (Pre: 13±6 vs Post: 7±4, P=.001), V˙O2 significantly improved (Pre: 9.76±1.23 mL/kg/m vs Post: 12.73±2.30 mL/kg/m, P=.04), and CT was reduced from the early to the later stages of training (3.66±5.2 vs 0.87±0.85 mL/kg/m).
Conclusions:
The current study suggests that EAW training improves oxygen uptake efficiency and walking velocities, with a lower perception of exertion.
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