Article

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the cost of stair ascent and descent in relation to a
measured standard of strength and metabolic (aerobic) capacities in persons with
chronic stroke compared with healthy adults. DESIGN: Descriptive cross-sectional
study. SETTING: Motion analysis laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Persons with stroke
(n=10) and sex- and age-matched older adults (n=10). INTERVENTION: Not
applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Lower limb peak joint moments generated during
stair walking, expressed as a percentage of the respective isokinetic peak
torque, provided an estimate of the relative strength cost.
The oxygen consumed
during stair walking as a percentage of the maximum oxygen consumption estimated
from a submaximal cycle ergometer test reflected the relative aerobic cost of
stair ambulation. RESULTS: During ascent, plantarflexor strength cost was highest
on the affected side (stroke) compared with the less affected side and control
subjects. The costs associated with the knee extensors were highest in stroke
(both sides) for both ascent and descent, and similarly the costs were highest
for the less affected and affected plantarflexors during descent. No differences
were detected between the affected and less affected sides. The oxygen consumed
when ambulating 1 flight of stairs was comparable between groups, but the
relative aerobic cost of stair ascent and descent was higher in stroke survivors
because of their lower aerobic capacity. CONCLUSIONS:
To our knowledge, this is
the first study to compare the relative costs of stair ambulation in people with
stroke and healthy controls. The higher strength and aerobic costs associated
with stair negotiation in stroke resulting primarily from reduced strength and
aerobic capacities, respectively, may limit mobility.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS