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. 2016 Nov;71(11):1444-1450.
doi: 10.1093/gerona/glw108. Epub 2016 Jun 6.

Metabolic Rate and Perceived Exertion of Walking in Older Adults With Idiopathic Chronic Fatigue

Vincenzo Valiani  1   2 , Duane B Corbett  3 , Jeffrey D Knaggs  3 , Todd M Manini  3
Affiliations

Metabolic Rate and Perceived Exertion of Walking in Older Adults With Idiopathic Chronic Fatigue

Vincenzo Valiani et al. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2016 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Fatigue is a common complaint in older adults, often not associated with underlying medical conditions. The purpose of this study was to investigate metabolic rate (MR) of walking, walking performance, and perception-based exertion during walking in older adults with and without idiopathic chronic fatigue (ICF).

Methods: 20 older adults (aged 70.8±4.9 years), reporting 2 SD above normative values of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue scale and without overt health conditions that explained their symptoms, were compared with 25 age-matched older adults (73.2±5.1 years) without fatigue symptoms. Participants walked 400 m at a rapid pace on a 20-m course. On a separate visit, oxygen consumption was measured during treadmill test at standard (40.2 m/min), preferred paces (40-83 m/min) and peak capacity. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured at each treadmill stage and after each lap of the 400-m walk test.

Results: During the 400-m walk test, individuals with ICF showed lower overall walking speed and reported a steady increase in RPE with no change observed in non-fatigued group (1.63±1.72 vs 0.27±0.68, p < .01). Similar findings on RPE were noted on treadmill test. Gross MR, mass-specific MR, mass-specific net MR, and MR as a percent of peak oxygen consumption of walking were similar between groups during standard, preferred paces and peak capacity on treadmill.

Conclusions: This study suggests that ICF in older adults is not related to elevated metabolic cost of walking. Higher RPE without concomitant decreases in performance indicate a potential disconnect between metabolic output and sensations during movement.

Keywords: Aging; Disability; Fatigue; Metabolic rate; Perceived exertion.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Lap speeds during the 400-m walk test.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Ratings of perceived exertion during the 400-m walk test.*Indicates significant difference ( p value < .05).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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