Energy Expenditure in Adolescents With Cerebral Palsy: Comparison of the SenseWear Armband and Indirect Calorimetry
in Journal of Physical Activity and HealthClick name to view affiliation
Background:
Inactivity and overweight are major health concerns in children and adolescents with disabilities. Methods for the assessment of activity and energy expenditure may be affected negatively by the underlying disability, especially when motor function is impaired. The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of the SenseWear Armband in adolescents with cerebral palsy and hemiparesis.
Methods:
Ten volunteers (age: 13.4 ± 1.6 years) were equipped with SenseWear Armbands on the hemiparetic and nonhemiparetic side of the body. Energy expenditure was measured at rest and during treadmill exercise (speed range: 0.85 to 2.35 m/s). Indirect calorimetry served as independent reference method.
Results:
The mean error was between −0.6 and 0.8 kcal/min and there were no significant differences between SenseWear and indirect calorimetry at any speed. Differences between body sides in expenditure (mean: −0.2 to 0.0 kcal/min) and step count (mean: −3.4 to 9.7 steps/min) were not significant.
Conclusions:
The validity of the SenseWear Armband does not appear to be negatively affected by cerebral palsy during laboratory treadmill exercise. Future field studies are necessary to assess the validity and practicability of energy expenditure and physical activity assessment in children and adolescents with physical disabilities.
Koehler (k.koehler@psu.edu) is with the Institute of Biochemistry, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany, and the Dept of Kinesiology, The Pensylvania State University, University Park, PA. Abel is with the German Research Centre of Elite Sports, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany. Wallmann-Sperlich and Anneken are with the Institute of Health Promotion and Clinical Movement Science, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany. Dreuscher is with the Research Institute for Inclusion through Physical Activity and Sport, Frechen, Germany.
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