Reciprocal aided gait in paraplegia

A group of 9 male paraplegics, experienced in the use of walking aids for ambulation, were tested using an alternate four-point gait. Data were collected pertaining to the axial load transmitted through the crutches, the upper limb joint displacements and the moments about the elbow and shoulder joints during the period of contact of the walking aid with the ground. This gait was found to be slow with long periods of load transmission through the walking aids. Comparatively high values were calculated for the moments about the joints of the upper limb.