Energy as an Outcome Measure

In assessing outcome from an intervention there are three broad aspects that need to be taken into account:

How did the intervention perform technically

Surgical interventions might be assessed by the rates of complications, the alignment of a bone on a radiograph, joint ranges or measures such as peak knee flexion in swing.

How did the patient benefit functionally

Energy studies give an estimate of the overally effect of an intervention but othe measures such as the gross motor function measure can be employed (see Oeffinger)

How satisfied was the patient with the intervention.

That was hard work, I wouldn't recommend it to a friend etc.

References

Oeffinger D, Tylkowski C, Functional Assessment Research Group. Multi-Centre Study: Correlations among gross motor functional classification system, gross motor function measure, pediatric orthopedic data collection instrument, oxygen cost and temporal spatial data in ambulatory cerebral palsy. Gait and Posture 2002;Supplement 1:S28-S29.