Study design: Cross-sectional.
Objectives: This study aimed to describe and compare VO2 and energy expenditure at rest (REE) and during standardized sedentary, non-exercise physical activity, and exercise activities, in people with motor-complete tetraplegia (C5-C8). Further, REE and energy expenditure (EE) for the different activities were compared to data from a reference group of people with motor-complete paraplegia (T7-T12).
Setting: Sweden.
Methods: The sample of people with motor-complete tetraplegia consisted of 26 adults (seven women) with SCI, C5-C8 AIS A-B. REE and EE for the different activities were measured with indirect calorimetry. The results were further compared to people with motor-complete paraplegia.
Results: Resting VO2 was 2.57 ml O2 kg-1 min-1, 2.54 for men and 2.60 for women. The VO2 or activity energy expenditure related to body weight increased three to four times during non-exercise physical activity compared to sedentary activities for the people with motor-complete tetraplegia, and up to six times during exercise activity. No significant differences were seen in resting or sedentary activity VO2 between the people with motor-complete tetraplegia and those with motor-complete paraplegia. Activities of daily life revealed no or small differences in VO2, except for setting a table, while the people with tetraplegia had ∼50% lower VO2 during exercise activities.
Conclusions: Non-exercise physical activities of daily life may be significant for increasing total daily EE in people with motor-complete tetraplegia. This might act to motivate the individual, and might be clinically important when designing adapted lifestyle intervention programs for the target group.