With 22 patients hospitalized in the Rehabilitation Center of Okayama Prefecture the oxygen metabolism of physical hanlicapped was investigated. These subjects were composed of 8 cases of poliomyelitis, 4 cases of cerbral palsy and others. The results are briefly summarized in the following :
1. In general the basic metabolism is at the lower limit of the normal level.
2. Generally speaking, the relative metabolic rate (RMR) is high in the gait of those handicapped with lower extremeties, and this is especially so in cerbral palsy.
3. The reason of a markedly low RMR in poliomyelitis when using the affected limbs for work lies in the fact that the patient is not working diligently.
4. The labor index (RMR × minutes) per day proved to be 400-1, 300.
5. The total calory consumption per day was between 1, 100 and 2, 400 Calories, and in the four cases whose calory consumption exceeded over 2, 200 Calories of the diet given, they were supplementing themselves with the food of their own choice.