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Energy consumption in children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy: a comparative study
C M Duffy1, A E Hill, A P Cosgrove
1Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.
Insights
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) and spina bifida exhibit altered energy expenditure during walking. Diplegic CP showed higher oxygen consumption compared to other conditions and healthy peers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Movement Science
- Biophysics
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) and spina bifida are common neurodevelopmental disorders affecting ambulation.
- Understanding energy expenditure in these populations is crucial for optimizing mobility and function.
- Previous research has highlighted increased metabolic costs during walking in individuals with CP and spina bifida.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the energy expenditure patterns of ambulant children with different types of cerebral palsy and spina bifida.
- To identify specific differences in oxygen consumption and walking efficiency among these groups and healthy children.
Main Methods:
- Measured oxygen consumption (mL/kg/min) during walking in ambulant children with diplegic CP, hemiplegic CP, spina bifida, and healthy controls.
- Analyzed oxygen cost (mL/kg/m) and walking velocity in all participant groups.
Main Results:
- Children with diplegic CP demonstrated significantly higher rates of oxygen consumption compared to those with hemiplegic CP, spina bifida, and healthy children.
- All groups with disabilities exhibited significantly higher oxygen cost and slower walking velocity than healthy children.
- Abnormal equilibrium reactions and impaired balance may contribute to the increased oxygen consumption in diplegic CP.
Conclusions:
- Ambulant children with diplegic CP have a higher metabolic demand during walking compared to other CP types, spina bifida, and typically developing children.
- Impaired balance and gait control are likely factors contributing to increased energy expenditure in children with neurological impairments.
- These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions to improve gait efficiency and reduce energy costs in children with CP and spina bifida.
Abstract:
The authors looked for differences in the energy expenditure patterns of ambulant children with cerebral palsy and spina bifida. Oxygen consumption was measured according to type of cerebral palsy or level of spina bifida lesion, and in healthy children. The rate of oxygen consumption (mL/kg/min) was significantly higher in the children with diplegia than in those with hemiplegia or with spina bifida or the healthy children. Oxygen cost (mL/kg/m) was significantly higher and velocity was significantly slower in all the groups with disability than in the healthy children. The reason children with diplegia consumed more oxygen than other children when walking may be that their abnormal equilibrium reactions impaired their balance and their ability to control their walking speed.