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Related Experiment Videos

Ankle weight effect on gait: orthotic implications

S L Barnett1, A M Bagley, H B Skinner

  • 1University of California, Berkeley.

Orthopedics
|October 1, 1993
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Adding ankle weights increases oxygen consumption and decreases walking speed. Lighter ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are recommended to improve mobility and reduce energy expenditure during ambulation.

Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Human Physiology
  • Orthotics

Background:

  • Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are used to support lower limb function.
  • The weight of AFOs can impact ambulation efficiency.
  • Minimizing AFO weight may enhance patient mobility.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the effect of added weight on oxygen consumption during walking.
  • To determine the relationship between added weight and walking velocity.
  • To provide evidence for the design of lighter AFOs.

Main Methods:

  • 10 healthy subjects walked with 0.91 kg, 1.82 kg, and 2.73 kg ankle weights.
  • Oxygen consumption was measured during steady-state walking at self-selected speeds.
  • Multiple regression analysis correlated oxygen consumption, velocity, age, and weight.

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Main Results:

  • Oxygen consumption per distance and rate significantly increased with added weight (P=.001, P=0.007).
  • Walking velocity significantly decreased with added weight (P=0.03).
  • Predictive relationships were established for oxygen consumption based on weight, velocity, and age.

Conclusions:

  • Minimizing orthotic device weight is crucial for optimizing walking velocity.
  • Reducing weight in ankle-foot orthoses minimizes oxygen consumption per unit distance.
  • Light-weight, molded plastic AFOs offer advantages over heavier designs.