(CFS): A case-control study.
Journal: Disabil Rehabil. 2009;31(19):1598-604.
Authors: Paul L, Rafferty D, Marshal R.
Affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Care, University
of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
NLM Citation: PMID: 19848558
Purpose. To examine the physiological cost of walking in subjects
with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and a matched control group,
walking at their preferred and at matched walking speeds.
Methods. Seventeen people with CFS and 17 matched-controls
participated in this observational study of physiological cost during
over-ground gait. Each subject walked for 5 min at their preferred
walking speed (PWS). Controls then walked for 5 min at the same pace
of their matched CFS subject. Gait speed and oxygen uptake, gross and
net were measured and oxygen uptake was expressed per unit distance
ambulated. CFS subjects completed the CFS-Activities and
Participation Questionnaire (CFS-APQ).
Results. At PWS the CFS group walked at a slower velocity of 0.84 +/-
0.21 m s(-1) compared to controls with a velocity of 1.19 +/- 0.13 m
s(-1) (p < 0.001). At PWS both gross and net oxygen uptake of CFS
subjects was significantly less than controls (p = 0.023 and p =
0.025 respectively). At matched-velocity both gross and net
physiological cost of gait was greater for CFS subjects than controls
(p = 0.048 and p = 0.001, respectively).
Conclusion. The physiological cost of walking was significantly
greater for people with CFS compared with healthy subjects. The
reasons for these higher energy demands for walking in those with CFS
have yet to be fully elucidated.
---------------------------------------------
Send posts to CO-CURE@listserv.nodak.edu
Unsubscribe at http://www.co-cure.org/unsub.htm
---------------------------------------------
Co-Cure's purpose is to provide information from across the spectrum of
opinion concerning medical, research and political aspects of ME/CFS and/or
FMS. We take no position on the validity of any specific scientific or
political opinion expressed in Co-Cure posts, and we urge readers to
research the various opinions available before assuming any one
interpretation is definitive. The Co-Cure website <www.co-cure.org> has a
link to our complete archive of posts as well as articles of central
importance to the issues of our community.
---------------------------------------------
