Metabolic Energy Expenditure and Accelerometer-Determined Physical Activity Levels in Post-Stroke Hemiparetic Patients

Garance Fonte; Céline Schreiber; Gilles Areno; Xavier Masson; Frédéric Chantraine; Gaston Schütz; Frédéric Dierick

doi:10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2022.106397

Metabolic Energy Expenditure and Accelerometer-Determined Physical Activity Levels in Post-Stroke Hemiparetic Patients

J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2022 May;31(5):106397. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2022.106397. Epub 2022 Feb 25.

Authors

Garance Fonte¹, Céline Schreiber¹, Gilles Areno², Xavier Masson³, Frédéric Chantraine¹, Gaston Schütz⁴, Frédéric Dierick⁵

Affiliations

¹ Laboratoire d'Analyse du Mouvement et de la Posture (LAMP), Centre National de Rééducation Fonctionnelle et de Réadaptation - Rehazenter, Luxembourg L-2674, Luxembourg.
² Laboratoire d'Analyse du Mouvement et de la Posture (LAMP), Centre National de Rééducation Fonctionnelle et de Réadaptation - Rehazenter, Luxembourg L-2674, Luxembourg; Department of Physiotherapy, Centre National de Rééducation Fonctionnelle et de Réadaptation - Rehazenter, Luxembourg L-2674, Luxembourg.
³ Department of Physiotherapy, Centre National de Rééducation Fonctionnelle et de Réadaptation - Rehazenter, Luxembourg L-2674, Luxembourg.
⁴ Centre National de Rééducation Fonctionnelle et de Réadaptation - Rehazenter, Luxembourg L-2674, Luxembourg.
⁵ Laboratoire d'Analyse du Mouvement et de la Posture (LAMP), Centre National de Rééducation Fonctionnelle et de Réadaptation - Rehazenter, Luxembourg L-2674, Luxembourg. Electronic address: frederic.dierick@rehazenter.lu.

PMID: 35228022
DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2022.106397

Abstract

Background: Assessment of metabolic energy expenditure in post-stroke patients using accelerometers is clinically important. However, understanding of the best placement of accelerometers on the body and methods for calculating activity counts are limited.

Methods: Thirty hemiparetic post-stroke patients participated in this cross-sectional study. Four triaxial accelerometers were attached to the hemiplegic and contralateral sides of the waist and ankles during various activities: lying, sitting, standing, stepping in place, and walking on a treadmill (1-5 kmh^-1). Activity counts and metabolic energy expenditure of the patients were recorded simultaneously. Simple linear regression analyses were performed between the activity counts and energy expenditure. Activities were classified according to their intensity, using the definition of energetic sedentary behavior of post-stroke patients and a low fitness level group.

Results: The best estimate of energy expenditure was obtained when the accelerometer was worn on the contralateral ankle and the activity counts was calculated using the vertical and anteroposterior axes (R²=0.812). Six classes of activity intensity (sedentary: ≤1.5 METs, very light: 1.51-1.79, light: 1.80-2.59, moderate: 2.60-3.39, hard: 3.40-4.39, and very hard: ≥4.40) and corresponding activity counts cut-off points are presented.

Conclusion: A triaxial accelerometer worn on the contralateral ankle and a method of calculating activity counts that includes at least the vertical and anteroposterior axes are recommended for estimating metabolic energy expenditure in post-stroke patients. The new activity counts cut-off points provide a significant advance in the interpretation of post-stroke monitoring in patients outside the hospital or rehabilitation center.

Keywords: Actimetry; Locomotion; Oxygen consumption; Wearable sensors.

MeSH terms

Accelerometry / methods
Cross-Sectional Studies
Energy Metabolism*
Exercise
Humans
Stroke* / complications
Stroke* / diagnosis
Walking