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Energy consumption during level walking with arm and knee immobilized
1Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
|September 12, 2001
Summary
Immobilizing a knee increases energy expenditure during walking by over 20%. Arm immobilization alone does not affect walking energy use, nor does it further increase it when the knee is also immobilized.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human Physiology
- Gait Analysis
Background:
- Understanding the energetic cost of walking is crucial for rehabilitation and mobility.
- Immobilization of limbs can alter gait mechanics and energy expenditure.
- Previous research has not fully elucidated the specific impact of arm versus knee immobilization on walking energy costs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the change in energy expenditure for healthy individuals walking on a level surface at a comfortable walking speed (CWS) with arm and/or knee immobilization.
- To differentiate the energetic impact of isolated arm immobilization versus isolated knee immobilization.
- To assess the combined effect of arm and ipsilateral knee immobilization on walking energy demands.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, quantitative study with randomly sequenced experimental trials was conducted.
- Ten healthy subjects with no pre-existing gait abnormalities participated.
- Energy expenditure was measured via breath-by-breath oxygen cost during treadmill walking under four conditions: no immobilization (N), arm immobilized (AI), knee immobilized (KI), and both arm and ipsilateral knee immobilized (KAI).
Main Results:
- Knee immobilization (KI) significantly increased mean oxygen cost by 22.7% compared to the no immobilization condition (N).
- Combined arm and ipsilateral knee immobilization (KAI) resulted in a similar significant increase in oxygen cost of 24.7% compared to N.
- Arm immobilization (AI) alone did not produce a significant difference in oxygen cost compared to N, nor did it further increase cost when combined with knee immobilization (KAI vs. KI).
Conclusions:
- Arm immobilization does not independently increase energy expenditure during level walking at comfortable walking speed.
- Knee immobilization significantly elevates walking energy expenditure.
- The presence of arm immobilization does not exacerbate the energy cost increase when the ipsilateral knee is also immobilized.
