A stair-climbing test for measuring mechanical efficiency of ambulation in adults with chronic stroke.

Conclusion: With a minimal detectable change of 0.6% (0.053 of average MEnet score of 10.4%), MEnet values from the stair-climbing test seem sufficiently meaningful to estimate ambulatory ability and its changes with interventions or walking aids in adults with hemiparesis. Implications for Rehabilitation Ambulatory ability can be estimated from mechanical efficiency, obtained from a 5-min stair-climbing test utilizing a 4-step stair, to measure external work, and the change in heart rate above rest to estimate the metabolic cost of the task. A change of > 0.6% in mechanical efficiency by this stair-climbing test indicates a significant change in ambulatory ability of persons with hemiparesis. PMID: 25113573 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Disability and Rehabilitation - Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Tags: Disabil Rehabil Source Type: research