Body-weight supported treadmill or total body recumbent stepper for mobility-adapted cardiopulmonary exercise testing in multiple sclerosis patients with varying disability
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mover><mml:mrow><mml:mi>V</mml:mi></mml:mrow> <mml:mo>˙</mml:mo></mml:mover> </mml:mrow> <mml:msub><mml:mrow><mml:mi>O</mml:mi></mml:mrow> <mml:mrow><mml:mn>2</mml:mn> <mml:mo>max</mml:mo></mml:mrow> </mml:msub> </mml:math> was similar between devices among MS patients. On BWST, they achieved lower <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mover><mml:mrow><mml:mi>V</mml:mi></mml:mrow> <mml:mo>˙</mml:mo></mml:mover> </mml:mrow> <mml:msub><mml:mrow><mml:mi>O</mml:mi></mml:mrow> <mml:mrow><mml:mn>2</mml:mn> <mml:mo>max</mml:mo></mml:mrow> </mml:msub> </mml:math> values compared to Controls. MS patients more successfully achieved the primary criterion, VO<sub>2</sub> plateau (≤150 ml/min<sup>-1</sup>), using TBRS. Additionally, TBRS permitted persons with mobility disability to achieve more criteria for a maximum CPET. Our results suggest that CPET using BWST, being reliant on the lower body, likely disadvantages MS patients, especially those with mobility disability.
Authors
- Liam Kelly (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6618-1543)
- Hamidreza Barzegarpoor
- Caitlin J. Newell (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0460-9975)
- Lynsey R. Alcock (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9171-273X)
- Saman Hadjizadeh Anvar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3922-1041)
- Michelle Ploughman
Institutions
- Memorial University of Newfoundland (CA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences
- Published
- 2026-03-05
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2026.1731215
- Primary Topic
- Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Canada Research Chairs