Characterizing Energy Expenditure During Sedentary Behavior After Stroke.

OBJECTIVES

To measure and calculate the energy expended by people with stroke during near sedentary behaviors (lying, supported and unsupported sitting, standing, wheelchair propulsion, walking), under controlled laboratory conditions, and to compare these values with the energy expenditure of 1.5 metabolic equivalent task (MET) within the definition of sedentary behavior.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional cohort study.

SETTING

Rehabilitation institutions.

PARTICIPANTS

People with stroke (N=27; mean age, 61.0±11.7y), categorized at Functional Ambulation Categories (FAC) 0 to 5.

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Energy expenditure (measured using indirect calorimetry) expressed in METs. The recorded values were calculated for every participant and averaged for each activity: lying, supported and unsupported sitting, standing, wheelchair propulsion, and walking. Calculations were done for the total group and categorized by the FAC.

RESULTS

For the total group the mean METs ± SDs were 1.04±.11 for sitting supported, 1.09±.15 for sitting unsupported, 1.31±.25 for standing, 1.91±.42 for wheelchair propulsion, and 2.52±.55 for walking. People with stroke in all FAC had METs values >1.5 when propelling a wheelchair or walking.

CONCLUSIONS

Energy expenditure during typical sedentary behaviors (ie, sitting) is narrowly bounded at approximately 1.0 MET. Energy expenditure during sitting and standing was ≤1.5 MET for all FAC, with the exception of FAC 0 (1.6 MET during standing). Independent wheelchair propulsion and walking can be categorized as light activities (≥1.5 MET).