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Title: Energy cost of ambulation with different methods of foot and ankle immobilization

Journal Article · · Journal of Orthopaedic Research; (United States)
; ; ;  [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Univ. of California, San Diego (United States)
  2. Children's Hospital Medical Center, San Diego (United States)

In order to measure the energy cost of immobilization of the foot and ankle during ambulation, 14 healthy male volunteers exercised while wearing various immobilization devices. Oxygen consumption, oxygen cost, cardiac output, minute ventilation, heart rate, stroke volume, stride length, and stride frequency were determined at a steady state of exercise as the subjects walked on a treadmill at 80 m/min (equivalent to the comfortable walking speed of approximately 3 mi/h). Each subject was tested with three different types of immobilization devices: a short leg walking cast, a prefabricated lower leg orthosis, and a rigid-soled surgical shoe. The results were compared with those for the same men ambulating without an immobilization device. Ambulation with the short leg walking cast and the prefabricated lower leg orthosis required significantly more energy in comparison with control values (all p values <0.006) in terms of oxygen cost, cardiac index, oxygen consumption, and minute ventilation. 15 refs., 1 fig., 2 tabs.

OSTI ID:
5813689
Journal Information:
Journal of Orthopaedic Research; (United States), Vol. 11:3; ISSN 0736-0266
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English