Energy Expenditure Study Version 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Feasibility Study to Investigate the Energy Expenditure of Acute Spinal Cord Injured Patients at Different Stages of Rehabilitation
IRAS ID
164340
Contact name
Kidangalil Mathew
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Weight gain is very common in patients following spinal cord injury (SCI). Being over weight can make care more difficult and increase the risk of developing health complications such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke in later years. We believe this weight gain is partly due to a reduction in energy needs caused by the loss of muscle use in paralysed parts of the body. Eating more calories than is required following injury also means that the body may store the energy it doesn't need rather than ‘burning it off’ during exercise.
In this study we aim to improve our understanding of energy expenditure of SCI patients by initially determining if it is feasible to measure the actual energy expenditure of 30 paraplegic and tetraplegic (ventilated and non-ventilated) in-patients at the Princess Royal Spinal Injuries Centre, Sheffield. We will compare this to predicted energy expenditure (current practice) and determine calorie intake of patients, body weight, body fat and other factors such as blood pressure and cholesterol which may indicate health problems associated with obesity. Measurements will be made at three stages of the patients’ stay in hospital, firstly during bed rest following admission for acute spinal injury, secondly at the mobilisation stage, and finally as preparations are made for discharge from the Centre.
We expect that the results of our feasibility study will provide evidence to support a larger energy expenditure study at Spinal Injury Centres across the UK. Our overall aim is to develop an understanding of energy use in SCI patients, in order to improve the dietary service provided to SCI patients in the NHS. This will hopefully reduce the risk of SCI patients developing other health complications such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SW/0144
Date of REC Opinion
12 May 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion