Ankle-foot orthoses: Effect on energy expenditure of gait in spastic diplegic children

K. A. Mossberg, K. A. Linton, K. Friske

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    57 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    This study examined the effect of conventional plastic bilateral ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) on the energy expenditure of ambulation in spastic diplegic cerebral palsy patients. Eighteen subjects (aged 8.3 ± 2.83 years) ambulated five minutes at freely chosen velocities with and without their AFOs. Heart rate (beats per minute) and distance (meters) ambulated were recorded for each minute. A physiologic cost index was calculated by determining the ratio of walking heart rate of velocity [(HR(amb) - HR(rest)) : meters per minute]. The mean physiologic cost indexes for the last three minutes of ambulation with and without orthose were 1.34 ± 0.69 beats per meter and 1.51 ± 0.79 beats per meter, respectively (p < 0.05). Ambulation heart rate, velocity and total distance traveled were not statistically different between the two trials. The results indicated that energy expenditure of ambulation at self-selected speeds in spastic diplegic children was reduced by the application of conventional AFOs. However, each child should be evaluated on a single-case basis because of individual differences.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)490-494
    Number of pages5
    JournalArchives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
    Volume71
    Issue number7
    StatePublished - Jan 1 1990

    Keywords

    • Ceerebral palsy
    • Gait
    • Heart rate
    • Orthotics

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
    • Rehabilitation

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