Step-rate cut-points for physical activity intensity in patients with multiple sclerosis: The effect of disability status

作者：Agiovlasitis Stamatis^*; Sandroff Brian M; Motl Robert W

来源：Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 2016, 361: 95-100.

DOI：10.1016/j.jns.2015.12.027

• Physical activity
• Neurological disability
• Measurement
• Over-ground walking

Background: Evaluating the relationship between step-rate and rate of oxygen uptake (VO2) may allow for practical physical activity assessment in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) of differing disability levels.
Aims: To examine whether the VO2 to step-rate relationship during over-ground walking differs across varying disability levels among patients with MS and to develop step-rate thresholds for moderate- and vigorous intensity physical activity.
Materials and methods: Adults with MS (N = 58; age: 51 +/- 9 years; 48 women) completed one over-ground walking trial at comfortable speed, one at 0.22 m.s(-1) slower, and one at 0.22 m.s(-1) faster. Each trial lasted 6 min. VO2 was measured with portable spirometry and steps with hand-tally. Disability status was classified as mild, moderate, or severe based on Expanded Disability Status Scale scores.
Results: Multi-level regression indicated that step-rate, disability status, and height significantly predicted VO2 (p < 0.05). Based on this model, we developed step-rate thresholds for activity intensity that vary by disability status and height. A separate regression without height allowed for development of step-rate thresholds that vary only by disability status.
Conclusion: The VO2 during over-ground walking differs among ambulatory patients with MS based on disability level and height, yielding different step-rate thresholds for physical activity intensity.

• 出版日期2016-2-15