Ankle weighting effect on gait in able-bodied adults.
Energy expenditure during ambulation was measured in 10 able-bodied subjects wearing symmetrically and asymmetrically added ankle weights. When a 1.82-kg weight was added to one ankle and then both ankles, baseline oxygen consumption per unit distance (0.148 +/- 0.025 mL O2/kg/m) increased significantly by 7.4% (0.159 +/- 0.025 mL O2/kg/m) and 17.6% (0.174 +/- 0.027 mL O2/kg/m), respectively. The rate of oxygen consumption rose by 6.3% to 11.28 +/- 1.57 mL O2/kg/min and by 14.2% to 12.12 +/- 1.75 mL O2/kg/min, respectively, but only the latter increase was significant. When gait was analyzed using the same weight-addition protocol, velocity, cadence, stride length, gait cycle, and double-limb support time showed no change. However, asymmetric weighting decreased single-limb support time, increased the swing phase, and decreased the stance phase of gait in the weighted limb. The unweighted leg was conversely affected. Symmetric ankle weighting caused a significant increase in single-limb support time for both extremities, consistent with previous data.
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Rehabilitation Research and Development Department, Veterans Administration Medical Center, San Francisco, CA.
Barrack
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D000328:Adult; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D014894:Weights and Measures
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen