Energy consumption of paraplegics gait using five different walking orthoses

The objectives of this study are to determine the energy consumption associated with paraplegics ambulating with: the LLB (long leg brace), the HGO (hip guidance orthosis), the RGO (reciprocating gait orthosis), the muscle-stimulation-powered RGO, and electrical muscle stimulation along. The criterion for determining the best orthotic system is energy cost in (kcal/kg-min) and heart rate (beats/min), measured for a group of paraplegics using each orthosis separately over a fixed distance. It is concluded that mechanical orthosis giving passive antigravity support to the hip joint in addition to the knee and ankle and powered by electrical stimulation of the paralyzed muscles provides the most efficient walking aid to quadraplegic patients. Attempts to restore locomotion with muscle stimulation along require unacceptable energy expenditures from the patient and cause undue, dangerous levels of stress to the heart. >