Comparison of energy expenditure of individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in the sitting posture on the ground and in water

• Published in: Neuromuscular disorders : NMD 2024-05, Vol.38, p.20-25
• Main Authors: Castro, Caio Roberto Aparecido de Paschoal, da Silva, Rafael Santos Ferreira, da Silva, Kaitiana Martins, Nishida, Márjory Harumi, Rios, Carolina Vasquez Valenci, Braga, Douglas Martins
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Aquatic therapy; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Duchenne muscular dystrophy; Energy expenditure; Energy Metabolism - physiology; Heart Rate - physiology; Humans; Hydrotherapy; Male; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne - physiopathology; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne - therapy; Oxygen Consumption - physiology; Sitting Position; Sitting posture; Water
• ISSN: 0960-8966; 1873-2364
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2024.03.004

•Energy expenditure in the aquatic environment: Measuring energy expenditure by measuring the oxygen consumption of individuals with Duchenne in the pool is innovative and can guide activities in this environment.•Prediction of energy expenditure in the aquatic environment: Prediction of energy expenditure inside the pool, based on measurements on the ground, facilitates assessment and provides confidence for the physiotherapist to outline measures for patients.•Guiding study: The purpose of this study is to obtain data on the energy expenditure of individuals with DMD in a sitting posture, as a basis for new studies on energy expenditure during aquatic exercises, being able to outline load and safety parameters. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is one of the most frequent childhood dystrophies, affecting cardiopulmonary functions and walking ability. One of the main symptoms is fatigue, which is caused by altered muscle metabolism related to energy expenditure (EE). Aquatic physiotherapy is a therapeutic modality that facilitates the maintenance of this posture because of immersion on the body. This cross-sectional observational study aimed to compare the EE on the ground and water of individuals with DMD through oxygen consumption in the maintenance of sitting posture. The individuals were in a sitting position on the ground and in the water for 20 min for the assessments. The variables peripheral oxygen saturation, heart rate, maximum expiratory pressure, maximum inspiratory pressure, forced vital capacity, respiratory quotient (RQ), and oxygen consumption per kilogram of body weight (VO2 /kg) were compared, adopting a significance of 5 %. No difference was found between medians and quartiles of RQ when comparing the two environments. The same was observed for VO2 /Kg values on the ground and in water. The data from this study demonstrate that the EE of individuals with DMD did not change when maintaining a sitting posture on the ground and in water.