RESUMO
Energy expenditure of 7 brain-injured individuals was compared to that of 10 able-bodied individuals. Data were collected with the subjects at rest and while performing 4 simulated industrial tasks: material handling, crank rotation, electric switch operation, mechanical assembly. Energy expenditure was determined by measuring oxygen consumption (VO2). Energy usage per unit weight per unit time was calculated for each subject. Over the range of tasks, the brain injured means varied from 0.0396 to 0.0674 kcal/kg/min, while the able-bodied means were between 0.0413 and 0.0849 kcal/kg/min. The cranking task showed the only statistically significant difference for this measure. Total energy use/unit weight was also examined, the brain injured group averaging more energy use during the material handling, switching, and assembly tasks and the able-bodied group averaging more energy use on the cranking task. Two factors explaining these results appear to be motivation and complexity of hand movements for each task. The performance of the brain injured group on the cranking task indicates ways of adapting crank operated control mechanisms for use by the handicapped.