Energy expenditure during rest and treadmill gait training in quadriplegic subjects

Study design: The analysis of oxygen uptake (VO 2 ) and energy consumption in quadriplegics after 6 months of treadmill gait with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). Objectives: To compare metabolic responses in quadriplegics after 6 months of treadmill training, with NMES (30–50% body weight relief), with quadriplegics who did not perform gait. Setting: Ambulatory of University Hospital, Brazil. Methods: Quadriplegics were separated into gait and control groups (CGs). On inclusion, all subjects performed VO 2 test. In the gait group (GG) ( n =11), the protocol consisted of 8 min of rest, 10 min of treadmill walking using NMES and 10 min of recovery. In the CG ( n =10), testing consisted of 8 min rest, 15 min of quadriceps endurance exercise in sitting position with NMES and 10 min recovery. VO 2 , carbon dioxide production (VCO 2 ) and energy consumption were measured. The GG performed 6 months of treadmill training, using NMES, for 20 min, twice a week. The CG did not practice any activity with NMES, performing conventional physiotherapy only; the CG was stimulated only during the cardiorespiratory test. Results: All parameters increased significantly for the GG: 36% for VO 2 (l/min), 43% for VCO 2 (l/min) and 32.5% for energy consumption (J/kg/s). For the CG, during knee extension exercise, VO 2 increased without changes in the energy consumption ( P