title: Effect of speed on the energy cost of walking in unilateral traumatic lower limb amputees.
abstract: In this work, the effect of walking speed on the energy expenditure in traumatic lower-limb amputees was studied. The oxygen consumption was measured in 10 transfemoral amputees, 9 transtibial amputees and 13 control subjects, while they stood and walked at different speeds from 0.3 m s(-1) to near their maximum sustainable speed. Standing energy expenditure rate was the same in lower-limb amputees and in control subjects (approximately 1.85 W kg(-1)). On the contrary, during walking, the net energy expenditure rate was 30-60% greater in transfemoral amputees and 0-15% greater in transtibial amputees than in control subjects. The maximal sustainable speed was about 1.2 m s(-1) in transfemoral amputees and 1.6 m s(-1) in transtibial amputees, whereas it was above 2 m s(-1) in control subjects. Among these three groups, the cost of transport versus speed presented a U-shaped curve; the minimum cost increased with the level of amputation, and the speed at which this minimum occurred decreased.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Physiologie et Biomécanique de la Locomotion, Université Catholique de Louvain, Place Pierre de Coubertin 1, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
authors.forename: Joakim J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Genin
authors.forename: Guillaume J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Bastien
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Franck
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Detrembleur
authors.forename: Patrick A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Willems
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000674:Amputees / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D013977:Tibia / Q000293:injuries*; D016138:Walking