Article

The aim of the present study was to assess the immediate impact of cane
use on energy expenditure during gait in patients with knee OA analyzing VO(2).
METHODS: An observational, cross-sectional study was carried out on 64
symptomatic patients with a diagnosis of knee OA. The assessment of energy
expenditure was performed through an analysis of expired gases using the portable
K4 apparatus (Cosmed, Model K4 b2, Italy) during the six-min walk test (6MWT).
Two tests were performed with a cane and two without a cane on two different days
within a seven-day period. RESULTS: The patients walked farther on the test
without the cane (p<0.001). Oxygen expenditure (VO(2)) and the O(2) cost of
walking at the end of the 6MWT increased approximately 50% and 80% during
cane-assisted gait when compared to gait without the use of a cane (p<0.001).
Pain (Borg scale) decreased approximately 20% at the end of the 6MWT with
cane-assisted gait in comparison to gait without a cane (p<0.001). CONCLUSION:
Cane use causes an immediate increase in energy expenditure (VO(2)) during gait
and O(2) cost of walking and an immediate decrease of pain during gait. It is
necessary to do a more prolonged follow up in order to assess the impact of daily
cane use on energy expenditure among these patients and determine whether
adaptation occurs. Furthermore, it is necessary to study whether daily cane use
has a positive impact on important parameters in these patients, such as pain,
function and quality of life.
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Langue : ANGLAIS