The effect of an arm sling on energy consumption while walking in hemiplegic patients: a randomized comparison.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of an arm sling on gait speed and energy efficiency of patients with hemiplegia.


METHODS
A randomized crossover design.


METHODS
A rehabilitation department of a university hospital.


METHODS
Thirty-seven outpatients with hemiplegia were included in this study.


METHODS
All patients walked on a 20-m walkway twice on the same day, randomly with and without an arm sling, at a self selected speed.


METHODS
The heart rate, gait speed, oxygen cost and oxygen rate were measured on all patients. We analysed all values with and without an arm sling and also compared them after all patients being stratified according to demographic and clinical characteristics.


RESULTS
When we compared the heart rate between walking with (90.7 ± 17.2 beats/min) and without (91.2 ± 18.6 beats/min) the arm sling, it was significantly decreased while walking with the arm sling. When we compared the gait speed between walking with (32.8 m/min) and without (30.1 m/min), it was significantly increased with the arm sling walking. The O(2) rate in hemiplegic patients walking with the arm sling was significantly decreased by 7%, compared to walking without arm sling (5.8 mL/kg min and 6.2 mL/kg min, respectively). The O(2) cost in hemiplegic patients walking without arm sling was significantly 1.4 times greater than walking with it (0.2 mL/kg m and 0.3 mL/kg m, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
An arm sling can be used to improve the gait efficiency.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
Seung Hoon
SH
Han
Taikon
T
Kim
Seong Ho
SH
Jang
Mi Jung
MJ
Kim
Si-Bog
SB
Park
Seoung Ic
SI
Yoon
Bong-Kun
BK
Choi
Michael Y
MY
Lee
Kyu Hoon
KH
Lee
D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D020069:Shoulder Pain; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*