Affiliations: [a]
Department of Kinesiology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA
| [b]
Department of Kinesiology & Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
Correspondence:
[*]
Address for correspondence: Stamatis Agiovlasitis, Ph.D., Department of Kinesiology, Mississippi State University, 240 McCarthy Gym, P.O. Box 6186, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA. Tel.: +1 662 325 2963; Fax: +1 662 325 4525; E-mail: sagiovlasitis@colled.msstate.edu.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:An equation for predicting the gross oxygen uptake (gross-VO2) during walking for persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) has been developed. Predictors included walking speed and total score from the 12-Item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS-12). OBJECTIVE:This study examined the validity of this prediction equation in another sample of persons with MS. METHODS:Participants were 18 persons with MS with limited mobility problems (42 ± 13 years; 14 women). Participants completed the MSWS-12. Gross-VO2 was measured with open-circuit spirometry during treadmill walking at 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 mph (0.89, 1.34, and 1.79 m·s–1). REULTS:Absolute percent error was small: 8.3 ± 6.1% , 8.0 ± 5.6% , and 12.2 ± 9.0% at 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 mph, respectively. Actual gross-VO2 did not differ significantly from predicted gross-VO2 at 2.0 and 3.0 mph, but was significantly higher than predicted gross-VO2 at 4.0 mph (p < 0.001). Bland-Altman plots indicated nearly zero mean difference between actual and predicted gross-VO2 with modest 95% confidence intervals at 2.0 and 3.0 mph, but there was some underestimation at 4.0 mph. CONCLUSIONS:Speed and MSWS-12 score provide valid prediction of gross-VO2 during treadmill walking at slow and moderate speeds in ambulatory persons with MS. However, there is a possibility of small underestimation for walking at 4.0 mph.
Keywords: Energy expenditure, gait, disability, MSWS-12
