What is the relationship between GMFCS level and energy expenditure during walking?

What is the relationship between GMFCS level and energy expenditure during walking?

• A. GMFCS level does not affect energy expenditure during walking.
• B. Lower GMFCS levels have higher energy cost.
• C. Energy cost is only affected by age.
• D. Higher GMFCS levels are associated with greater energy cost and reduced walking efficiency.

Answer: (D)

Understanding how GMFCS relates to walking energy helps explain why more severe CP often means more effort to walk. As GMFCS level increases, indicating greater motor impairment, gait becomes less efficient. This inefficiency comes from compensatory movements, abnormal muscle tone and coactivation, reduced selective motor control, and balance challenges. Even at the same walking speed, these factors raise the metabolic cost of walking, so energy expenditure per distance is higher and walking fatigue occurs sooner. Lower GMFCS levels tend to have more efficient, smoother gait with less compensatory effort, leading to lower energy costs. While age and other factors influence endurance, the level of gross motor function is a key predictor of how much energy walking requires. Therefore, higher GMFCS levels are associated with greater energy cost and reduced walking efficiency.

Understanding how GMFCS relates to walking energy helps explain why more severe CP often means more effort to walk. As GMFCS level increases, indicating greater motor impairment, gait becomes less efficient. This inefficiency comes from compensatory movements, abnormal muscle tone and coactivation, reduced selective motor control, and balance challenges. Even at the same walking speed, these factors raise the metabolic cost of walking, so energy expenditure per distance is higher and walking fatigue occurs sooner. Lower GMFCS levels tend to have more efficient, smoother gait with less compensatory effort, leading to lower energy costs. While age and other factors influence endurance, the level of gross motor function is a key predictor of how much energy walking requires. Therefore, higher GMFCS levels are associated with greater energy cost and reduced walking efficiency.