Evaluation of a new metabolic cost indicator for gait analysis

Abstract

The measurement of energy consumption has been suggested for the evaluation of treatments that focus on the motor rehabilitation of patients. Often it is estimated from oxygen consumption, however the equipment needed is impractical in clinical setting. Alternatively, indices based on heart rate have been suggested. The aim of the present study was to measure the repeatability of the physiological cost index (PCI) and the total heart rate index (THBI) and compare them. Ten adult subjects with no lesions that could have affected their gait participated in the study. The heart rate was measured while walking in an eight-figure path, under stationary conditions. The results obtained indicate that the THBI index, calculated by dividing the number of total beats during the gait phase between the average velocity of the individual during that phase, presents good repeatability (ICC of 0.84) compared to the PCI index (ICC 0.45). It is concluded that THBI is a simple parameter to calculate from continuous heart rate data and provides a reproducible alternative to the PCI.