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Comparison of Energy Expenditure Between Aquatic and Overground Treadmill Walking in People Post‐Stroke
Author(s) -
Jung Taeyou,
Ozaki Yoshi,
Lai Byron,
Vrongistinos Konstantinos
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
physiotherapy research international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.509
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1471-2865
pISSN - 1358-2267
DOI - 10.1002/pri.1564
Subject(s) - cardiorespiratory fitness , respiratory exchange ratio , physical therapy , stroke (engine) , treadmill , medicine , metabolic equivalent , energy expenditure , preferred walking speed , heart rate , physical medicine and rehabilitation , blood pressure , physical activity , mechanical engineering , engineering
Background and Purpose This study aimed to compare the cardiorespiratory responses between aquatic treadmill walking (ATW) and overground treadmill walking (OTW) in people with hemiparesis post‐stroke. Methods Eight participants post‐stroke aged 58.5 ± 11.4 years and eight healthy adult controls aged 56.1 ± 8.6 years participated in a cross‐sectional comparative study. Participants completed three 8‐minute walking sessions separated by at least 72‐hour rest. On the first visit, participants identified their comfortable walking speed on an aquatic and overground treadmill. The second and third visit consisted of either ATW or OTW at a matched speed. Oxygen consumption (VO 2 ), carbon dioxide production (VCO 2 ), minute ventilation (V E ) and energy expenditure (EE) were measured at rest and during walking in both exercise modes. Results Mean steady‐state cardiorespiratory responses during ATW showed a significant decrease compared with OTW at a matched speed. During ATW, mean VO 2 values decreased by 39% in the stroke group and 21% in the control group, mean VCO 2 values decreased by 42% in the stroke group and 30% in the control group, and mean EE decreased by 40% in the stroke group and 25% in the control group. Mean steady‐state V E values and resting cardiorespiratory response values showed no significant change between the two conditions. Conclusion This study demonstrated a decreased metabolic cost when ATW at matched speeds to that of OTW. Reduced metabolic cost during ATW may allow for longer durations of treadmill‐induced gait training compared with OTW for improved outcomes. This knowledge may aid clinicians when prescribing aquatic treadmill exercise for people post‐stroke with goals of improving gait and functional mobility. However, decreased metabolic cost during ATW suggests that to improve cardiovascular fitness, ATW may not be a time‐efficient method of cardiovascular exercise for healthy adults and people post‐stroke. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.