Exercise Intensity during Walk with a Weight Bearing Control Walker in Paraplegic Patients

• Published in: Rigakuryoho Kagaku Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 227 - 230
• Main Authors: KONDO, TERUHIKO, MATSUZAWA, TADASHI
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Society of Physical Therapy Science 2001
• Subjects: aerobic working capacity; exercise intensity; paraplegic patients; weight bearing control walkers (WBC); wheelchair road work (WCR)
• ISSN: 1341-1667; 2434-2807
• DOI: 10.1589/rika.16.227

Exercise intensity of male paraplegic patients during walk with a weight bearing control walker (WBC) was compared with that during wheelchair road work (WCR). Measured data on WBC and WCR were as follows: WBC · WCR of the Peak VO2 were 12.4 ml/kg/min · 22.5 ml/kg/min and 12.4 ml/kg/min · 24.8 ml/kg/min in case A and case B, respectively; The Peak HR was 155 bpm · 160 bpm in case A, and was 134 bpm · 174 bpm in Case B; The RPE (rating of perceived exertion) was 5 · 5 in case A, and 5 · 6 in case B; The exercise duration was 23 min in case A, and 24 min · 21 min in case B; The % Peak VO2 was 37.9 % Peak VO2 · 68.8 % Peak VO2 in case A, and 48.2 % Peak VO2 · 96.5 % Peak VO2 in case B. The sub-maximal exercise intensity of the patient, which was estimated as the level of Peak VO2, was 32.7 ml/kg/min in case A, and 25.7 ml/kg/min in case B, using the arm cranking method. Results suggest that walk with WBC may impose an extra burden on upper extremities and trunk and may mirror the level of disavility. WCR was found one of the effective methods to improve physical strength in paraplegic patients.