Energy Cost and Cardiorespiratory Adaptation in the “Get-Up-and-Go” Test in Frail Elderly Women With Postural Abnormalities and in Controls

Background. This study investigated the hypothesis that postural abnormalities might increase energy expenditure during a clinical functional test in frail elderly persons. Methods. Two groups of hospitalized women (aged 73 to 100 years) were recruited. Women who showed postural and gait abnormalities as described in the psychomotor disadaptation syndrome (PDS) were compared with control participants. The authors measured energy expenditure during the timed “up and go” test. For each participant, oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide output, expiratory minute ventilation, breathing frequency, heart rate, and alveolar ventilation were recorded 10 minutes before, during, and 10 minutes after exercise. The arterial pressure of carbon dioxide was estimated from expired gases. Results. The mean oxygen uptake values were significantly higher in women with PDS than in the control group during exercise and recovery periods (4.89 ± 1.68 vs 3.75 ± 1.25 ml · kg−1 · min−1 and 4.69 ± 1.45 vs 3.76 ± 0.97 ml · kg−1 · min−1, respectively [p