Article

The energy consumed per covered distance (C) is increased in
hemiparetic stroke adults during walking. OBJECTIVE: To ascertain if increased C
in stroke patients is a result of increased mechanical work, of decreased
efficiency of work production by muscles or of slow walking speed. METHODS: C and
mechanical work were computed in 20 patients walking on a force measuring
treadmill at speeds ranging from 1 km h(-1) to their own maximum speed (WS(MAX)).
Works done by healthy and pathological limbs were computed separately. RESULTS:
For hemiparetic patients, C was around 1.7 times greater than normal. When these
patients had a slower WS(MAX), they had greater C and mechanical work (r=-0.44
and -0.57, respectively). The increased C was related to the external work
performed to lift the center of body mass when the healthy limb was supporting
the body weight (r=0.77). CONCLUSIONS: The increase of C in stroke patients is
more pronounced when WS(MAX) is slow. Moreover, this increase is related to
increased mechanical work done by muscles and is not related to slow walking
speed or decreased efficiency. As in healthy subjects, C and external work
presented optimum speeds, indicating a preserved pendular mechanism of walking.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS