title: Gait with light and heavy fracture bandages on the lower leg.
abstract: Using an instrumented treadmill which measured ground reaction forces, ten normal subjects were tested wearing conventional plaster-of-Paris bandages on the lower leg and lightweight crus-plastic bandages. Two different types of heels were also tested. From calculation of gait parameters it was found that the free walking speed was lowest with a conventional bandage with heel. The external work of gait was lowest with the lightweight bandage. Ataxia was least while wearing the lightweight bandage. The lightweight bandage is preferable from a biomechanical point of view, in accordance with the opinion of the subjects.
authors.affiliation: Biomechanical Laboratory, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, DK-2900 Hellerup, Denmark.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hellberg
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Thyssen
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Jansen