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 ((V) over dot O-2) 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 (V) over dot O-2 was measured in relation to workload during a graded exercise test. Results: The (V) over dot O-2 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.