Faculty Collaboration Database

[Upper extremity kinetics and energy expenditure during walker-assisted gait in children with cerebral palsy]. Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc 2009;43(2):156-64

Date

05/19/2009

Pubmed ID

19448356

DOI

10.3944/AOTT.2009.156

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-67650133549 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   9 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the relationships between upper extremity (UE) kinetics and the energy expenditure index during anterior and posterior walker-assisted gait in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP).

METHODS: Ten children (3 boys, 7 girls; mean age 12.1 years; range 8 to 18 years) with spastic diplegic CP, who ambulated with a walker underwent gait analyses that included UE kinematics and kinetics. Upper extremity kinetics were obtained using instrumented walker handles. Energy expenditure index was obtained using the heart rate method (EEIHR) by subtracting resting heart rate from walking heart rate, and dividing by the walking speed. Correlations were sought between the kinetic variables and the EEIHR and temporal and stride parameters.

RESULTS: In general, anterior walker use was associated with a higher EEIHR. Several kinetic variables correlated well with temporal and stride parameters, as well as the EEIHR. All of the significant correlations (r>0.80; p<0.005) occurred during anterior walker use and involved joint reaction forces (JRF) rather than moments. Some variables showed multiple strong correlations during anterior walker use, including the medial JRF in the wrist, the posterior JRF in the elbow, and the inferior and superior JRFs in the shoulder.

CONCLUSION: The observed correlations may indicate a relationship between the force used to advance the body forward within the walker frame and an increased EEIHR. More work is needed to refine the correlations, and to explore relationships with other variables, including the joint kinematics.

Author List

Konop KA, Strifling KM, Wang M, Cao K, Eastwood D, Jackson S, Ackman J, Altiok H, Schwab J, Harris GF

Authors

Gerald Harris PhD Director in the Orthopaedic Research Engineering Center (OREC) department at Marquette University
Mei Wang PhD Associate Professor in the Orthopaedic Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Cerebral Palsy
Child
Energy Metabolism
Female
Gait
Humans
Kinetics
Male
Upper Extremity
Walkers