Energy expenditure after spinal cord injury in people with motor-complete tetraplegia or motor-complete paraplegia

Study design Cross-sectional. Objectives This study aimed to describe and compare VO 2 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 VO 2 was 2.57 ml O 2 kg −1 min −1 , 2.54 for men and 2.60 for women. The VO 2 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 VO 2 between the people with motor-complete tetraplegia and those with motor-complete paraplegia. Activities of daily life revealed no or small differences in VO 2 , except for setting a table, while the people with tetraplegia had ∼50% lower VO 2 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.