Energy consumption in children with myelomeningocele: a comparison between reciprocating gait orthosis and hip–knee–ankle–foot orthosis ambulators

This study compared the differences in energy efficiency (energy cost) in children with myelomeningocele ambulating with either reciprocating gait orthoses (RGOs) or hip‐knee‐ankle‐foot orthoses (HKAFOs). There were 15 children who ambulated with RGOs and 11 children braced and ambulating in HKAFOs....

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Developmental medicine and child neurology 1997-04, Vol.39 (4), p.239-242
Main Authors: Cuddeford, Tyler J., Freeling, Renée P., Thomas, Susan Sienko, Aiona, Michael D., Rex, Dorothea, Sirolli, Henry, Elliott, Joanne, Magnusson, Mark
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Biomechanical Phenomena
Breath Tests
Carbon Monoxide - analysis
Child
Child, Preschool
Energy Metabolism
Gait
Humans
Meningomyelocele - metabolism
Meningomyelocele - physiopathology
Meningomyelocele - rehabilitation
Orthotic Devices - standards
Oxygen - analysis
Oxygen Consumption
Time Factors
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This study compared the differences in energy efficiency (energy cost) in children with myelomeningocele ambulating with either reciprocating gait orthoses (RGOs) or hip‐knee‐ankle‐foot orthoses (HKAFOs). There were 15 children who ambulated with RGOs and 11 children braced and ambulating in HKAFOs. Velocity was measured in m/s, energy consumption was measured in mL/kg/min, and energy cost (energy consumption/velocity) was measured in mL/kg/m. Children in HKAFOs had a significantly higher energy consumption rate than children in RGOs. However, children who swing through in a HKAFO have a significantly faster velocity than children who ambulate with the RGO using a reciprocating pattern. The increased energy cost in the RGO group is influenced by their slower velocity, just as the decreased energy cost in the HKAFO group is influenced by their increased velocity. Therefore it appears that children in HKAFOs are more energy efficient than children in RGOs.
ISSN:0012-1622
1469-8749
DOI:10.1111/j.1469-8749.1997.tb07418.x