The effect of increasing effort on movement economy during incremental cycling exercise in individuals early after acquired brain injury.

Objective: To investigate the effect of increasing effort on energy cost as measured by oxygen consumption (VO2) during cycling exercise in individuals early after acquired brain injury (ABI).

Design: An experimental correlation design.

Setting: Specialist neurorehabilitation centre.

Participants: Thirty-eight individuals were recruited early after acquired brain injury. Nine individuals had spasticity; Ashworth Scale >1 in either upper or lower limbs.

Intervention: The VO2 was measured in relation to workload during a graded exercise test.

Results: The VO2 increased in a linear fashion with increases in workload in 34 individuals. Only one individual with spasticity demonstrated a nonlinear relationship.

Conclusion: Increasing the workload during cycling exercise does not disproportionately increase energy cost in most individuals with spasticity early after ABI.