Abstract
The energy required to walk using a newly designed knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) has been evaluated. The new KAFO locks the knee during stance and allows free-knee motion during the swing phase of gait. The energy required for gait on level ground and on a slope with a 5-percent incline was evaluated in a postpolio subject. Comparisons were made between the standard locked-knee KAFO and the free-knee (unlocked) configuration. The oxygen consumption rate (ml/kg/ min) and energy cost (ml/kg/m) were significantly lower during free-knee gait. The results of the study show that a KAFO design that allows free-knee motion during swing is effective in lowering the energy required for walking.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 79-85 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics |
Volume | 8 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1996 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biomedical Engineering
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
- Rehabilitation