Association of energy intake and walking ability in vertebral compression fracture

Abstract

[Purpose]To clarify vertebral compression fracture (VCF) patients’ dietary status, and to investigate the association of their energy intake and walking ability, an outcome measure of rehabilitation. [Subjects] Thirty-one VCF patients who could walk independently prior to VCF. [Methods] Their energy intake ratio (energy intake/energy consumption) was assessed over 7 days of hospital admission. Patients with an energy intake ratio ≥1.0 were assigned to the sufficient (SUF) group, and those with a ratio <1.0 were assigned to the deficient (DEF) group; and the functional ambulation category (FAC), an index of walking ability, was compared between the two groups. [Results] Seventy-four percent of the patients were found to have dietary deficiency. The FAC of the SUF group was significantly higher than that of the DEF group both at the start of walking training and at hospital discharge, and an association between the energy intake ratio and FAC was found. [Conclusion] The results suggest that many VCF patients have dietary intake deficiency, and that this affects their walking ability.