Article

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relative aerobic load, walking speed, and walking
economy of older adults with a lower-limb prosthesis, and to predict the effect
of an increased aerobic capacity on their walking ability. DESIGN:
Cross-sectional. SETTING: Human motion laboratory at a rehabilitation center.
PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of older adults (n=36) who underwent lower-limb
amputation because of vascular deficiency or trauma and able-bodied controls
(n=21). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Peak aerobic
capacity and oxygen consumption while walking were determined. The relative
aerobic load and walking economy were assessed as a function of walking speed,
and a data-based model was constructed to predict the effect of an increased
aerobic capacity on walking ability. RESULTS: People with a vascular amputation
walked at a substantially higher (45.2%) relative aerobic load than people with
an amputation because of trauma. The preferred walking speed in both groups of
amputees was slower than that of able-bodied controls and below their most
economical walking speed. We predicted that a 10% increase in peak aerobic
capacity could potentially result in a reduction in the relative aerobic load of
9.1%, an increase in walking speed of 17.3% and 13.9%, and an improvement in the
walking economy of 6.8% and 2.9%, for people after a vascular or traumatic
amputation, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Current findings corroborate the notion
that, especially in people with a vascular amputation, the peak aerobic capacity
is an important determinant for walking ability. The data provide quantitative
predictions on the effect of aerobic training; however, future research is needed
to experimentally confirm these predictions.
CI - Copyright (c) 2013 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS