OBJECTIVES: To determine the relative aerobic load, walking speed, and walking economy of older adults with a lower-limb prosthesis, and to predict the effect of an increased aerobic capacity on their walking ability. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Human motion laboratory at a rehabilitation center. PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of older adults (n=36) who underwent lower-limb amputation because of vascular deficiency or trauma and able-bodied controls (n=21). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Peak aerobic capacity and oxygen consumption while walking were determined. The relative aerobic load and walking economy were assessed as a function of walking speed, and a data-based model was constructed to predict the effect of an increased aerobic capacity on walking ability. RESULTS: People with a vascular amputation walked at a substantially higher (45.2%) relative aerobic load than people with an amputation because of trauma. The preferred walking speed in both groups of amputees was slower than that of able-bodied controls and below their most economical walking speed. We predicted that a 10% increase in peak aerobic capacity could potentially result in a reduction in the relative aerobic load of 9.1%, an increase in walking speed of 17.3% and 13.9%, and an improvement in the walking economy of 6.8% and 2.9%, for people after a vascular or traumatic amputation, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Current findings corroborate the notion that, especially in people with a vascular amputation, the peak aerobic capacity is an important determinant for walking ability. The data provide quantitative predictions on the effect of aerobic training; however, future research is needed to experimentally confirm these predictions.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the relative aerobic load, walking speed, and walking economy of older adults with a lower-limb prosthesis, and to predict the effect of an increased aerobic capacity on their walking ability. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING:Human motion laboratory at a rehabilitation center. PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of older adults (n=36) who underwent lower-limb amputation because of vascular deficiency or trauma and able-bodied controls (n=21). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Peak aerobic capacity and oxygen consumption while walking were determined. The relative aerobic load and walking economy were assessed as a function of walking speed, and a data-based model was constructed to predict the effect of an increased aerobic capacity on walking ability. RESULTS:People with a vascular amputation walked at a substantially higher (45.2%) relative aerobic load than people with an amputation because of trauma. The preferred walking speed in both groups of amputees was slower than that of able-bodied controls and below their most economical walking speed. We predicted that a 10% increase in peak aerobic capacity could potentially result in a reduction in the relative aerobic load of 9.1%, an increase in walking speed of 17.3% and 13.9%, and an improvement in the walking economy of 6.8% and 2.9%, for people after a vascular or traumatic amputation, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Current findings corroborate the notion that, especially in people with a vascular amputation, the peak aerobic capacity is an important determinant for walking ability. The data provide quantitative predictions on the effect of aerobic training; however, future research is needed to experimentally confirm these predictions.
Keywords:
Amputation; Artificial limbs; C(pws); PWS; Physical exertion; Physical fitness; Rehabilitation; Walking; energy expenditure while walking (ml·kg(−1)·min(−1)); o(2)peak; o(2rel); o(2walking); oxygen cost (ie, the oxygen consumption per distance traveled at preferred walking speed) (ml·kg(−1)·m(−1)); peak oxygen consumption (ml·kg(−1)·min(−1)); preferred walking speed (m/s); relative aerobic load (eg, as the percentage of available peak oxygen consumption that was used when walking)
Authors: Jason T Kahle; M Jason Highsmith; Hans Schaepper; Anton Johannesson; Michael S Orendurff; Kenton Kaufman Journal: Technol Innov Date: 2016-09-01
Authors: Ronald G Kaptein; Daphne Wezenberg; Trienke IJmker; Han Houdijk; Peter J Beek; Claudine J C Lamoth; Andreas Daffertshofer Journal: J Neuroeng Rehabil Date: 2014-08-12 Impact factor: 4.262