Article

This study aimed to examine whether, on the basis of the relationship
between sensors attached on the upper limbs and energy expenditure (EE) at the
time of wheelchair propulsion, there are differences in the measurement of EE
depending on the sensor attachment site and whether addition of the angular
velocity information to the acceleration value is advantageous. We also aimed to
clarify the variables used to estimate EE as well as the estimated error.
SETTING: Laboratory of the National Hospital Organization Murayama Medical
Center, Japan. METHODS:
Six male subjects with spinal cord injuries participated
in the study. Each wore sensors at the wrist and the middle upper arm on both
sides while driving a wheelchair on a treadmill at three levels: very, very
light; very light; and fairly light. Triaxial acceleration, triaxial angular
velocity and EE were measured during driving. We analyzed the correlation between
EE and acceleration, angular velocity and synthesized values of acceleration and
angular velocity at each location using regression, multiple regression and
Bland-Altman analyses. RESULTS: The determination coefficients between EE and the
acceleration, angular velocity and synthesized values of acceleration and angular
velocity varied from 0.68 to 0.87 at each location. The mean difference between
the measured and estimated EE varied from 0.0028 (s.d., 0.0027) kcal min(-1)
kg(-1) on the right upper arm. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that combining
the synthesized values of angular velocity and acceleration of the motion sensors
on the upper limbs might reflect EE during a wheelchair driving activity on a treadmill.

Langue : ANGLAIS