The purpose of this study was to quantify and compare the difference in energy cost between the two most commonly used assistive devices (prosthesis and axillary crutches) in adults with Transtibial amputation by indirect calorimetric method at the self-selected speed in plane surface walking.
Thirty adults who had a unilateral transtibial amputation participated in this study. Oxygen consumption was measured with a Cosmed K4 b2 oxygen analysis telemetry unit (Rome, Italy) as the participants walked over level ground for 30聽meters at a self-selected speed. The variables that were analyzed were VO2 rate (mL/min), VO2 cost (mL/kg/m), heart rate (bpm), self-selected walking velocity (m/min) and energy expenditure per minute (Kcal/min).
It was observed that VO2 uptake rate and EE comparisons were highly significant for both prosthesis and crutches without prosthesis walking in adults with transtibial amputation (
The data on energy cost indicates that all below knee amputee groups walk with less effort by using prosthesis. It may be concluded that crutches without prosthesis may not be used as a permanent rehabilitative measure in transtibial amputations.