Article

OBJECTIVES: To determine how changes in velocity and weight support affect
metabolic power and ground reaction forces (GRFs) during walking using a
lower-body positive pressure (LBPP) device. To find specific velocity and weight
combinations that require similar aerobic demands but different peak GRFs.
PARTICIPANTS:
Healthy volunteer subjects (N=10). INTERVENTIONS: Subjects walked 1.00, 1.25, and
1.50 m/s on a force-measuring treadmill at normal weight (1.0 body weight [BW])
and at several fractions of BW (.25, .50, .75, .85 BW). The treadmill was
enclosed within an LBPP apparatus that supported BW. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Metabolic power, GRFs, and stride kinematics. RESULTS: At faster velocities, peak
GRFs and metabolic demands were greater. In contrast, walking at lower fractions
of BW attenuated peak GRFs and reduced metabolic demand compared with normal
weight walking. Many combinations of velocity and BW resulted in similar aerobic
demands, yet walking faster with weight support lowered peak GRFs compared with
normal weight walking. CONCLUSIONS: Manipulating velocity and weight using an
LBPP device during treadmill walking can reduce force yet maintain
cardiorespiratory demand. Thus, LBPP treadmill training devices could be highly
effective for rehabilitation after orthopedic injury and/or orthopedic
procedures.
CI - Copyright 2010 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS