Characteristics of exercise intensity during walking in chronic hemiplegia and quadriplegia

<p>Objective: The goal of this study is to identify the exercise intensity of walking in individuals with hemiplegia and quadriplegia who can walk outdoors independently. Furthermore, we aim to examine the accuracy of a commercial activity meter by comparing its results with those obtained from a respiratory metabolism measurement device. </p><p>Methods: The subjects of this study were individuals with hemiplegia and quadriplegia who could walk outdoors without assistance. We gauged their exercise intensity using a commercial activity meter and a respiratory metabolism measurement device. </p><p>Results: In the hemiplegic group, walking speed was 0.54 m/s, while the recorded exercise intensity was 3.8 METs according to the respiratory metabolism measurement device and 2.2 METs for the activity meter. Contrarily, the quadriplegic patients exhibited a walking speed of 0.66 m/s, with the exercise intensity being 3.0 METs as measured by the respiratory metabolism device and 2.3 METs as indicated by the activity meter. In both instances, the activity meter’s results were substantially lower than those provided by the respiratory metabolism device. </p><p>Conclusions: Both patients exhibited a walking speed lower than that of healthy individuals at a subjective comfortable pace. However, it was suggested that their exercise intensity might be at similar levels. Among individuals with disabilities, the exercise intensity of walking as indicated by the commercial activity meter may be lower than the results measured by the respiratory metabolism device possibly owing to their disability characteristics.</p>