title: Effects of lower limb length and body proportions on the energy cost of overground walking in older persons.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although walking has been extensively investigated in its biomechanical and physiological aspects, little is known on whether lower limb length and body proportions affect the energy cost of overground walking in older persons.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 50 men and 12 women aged 65 years and over, mean 69.1 ± SD 5.4, who at the end of their cardiac rehabilitation program performed the six-minute walk test while wearing a portable device for direct calorimetry and who walked a distance comparable to that of nondisabled community-dwelling older persons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the multivariable regression model (F = 12.75, P < 0.001, adjusted R(2) = 0.278) the energy cost of overground walking, expressed as the net energy expenditure, in kg(-1) sec(-1), needed to provide own body mass with 1 joule kinetic energy, was inversely related to lower limb length and directly related to lower limb length to height ratio (β ± SE(β) = -3.72 × 10(-3) ± 0.74 × 10(-3), P < 0.001, and 6.61 × 10(-3) ± 2.14 × 10(-3), P = 0.003, resp.). Ancillary analyses also showed that, altogether, 1 cm increase in lower limb length reduced the energy cost of overground walking by 2.57% (95%CI 2.35-2.79).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower limb length and body proportions actually affect the energy cost of overground walking in older persons.
authors: UO Riabilitazione Cardiaca, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Via di Scandicci snc, 50143 Florence, Italy.
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Vannetti
authors: UO Riabilitazione Cardiaca, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Via di Scandicci snc, 50143 Florence, Italy.
authors: Guido
authors: 0000-0002-1811-102X
authors: G
authors: Pasquini
authors: Istituto di BioRobotica, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Pisa, Italy.
authors: Nicola
authors: 0000-0001-8636-7716
authors: N
authors: Vitiello
authors: UO Riabilitazione Cardiaca, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Via di Scandicci snc, 50143 Florence, Italy.
authors: Raffaele
authors: 0000-0001-9835-9262
authors: R
authors: Molino-Lova
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*