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. 2009 Mar;33(1):61-8.
doi: 10.1080/03093640802562368.

The Physiological Cost Index of walking with an isocentric reciprocating gait orthosis among patients with T(12) - L(1) spinal cord injury

Aaron K L Leung  1 , Admond F Y Wong, Eunice C W Wong, Stephen W Hutchins
Affiliations

The Physiological Cost Index of walking with an isocentric reciprocating gait orthosis among patients with T(12) - L(1) spinal cord injury

Aaron K L Leung et al. Prosthet Orthot Int. 2009 Mar.

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the Physiological Cost Index of walking with a reciprocating gait orthosis to that of walking with bilateral knee-ankle-foot orthoses (KAFOs) by subjects with paraplegia resulting from T(12) - L(1) spinal cord lesions.

Methodology: Six chronic paraplegic subjects who had T(12) - L(1) spinal cord lesions and who previously wore bilateral KAFOs were recruited. Each subject was fitted with an isocentric reciprocating gait orthosis (IRGO) and received a standardized training program. Subjects were then asked to walk using the two orthotic devices along a 40 m rectangular pathway at a speed that was comfortable for them. The walking speed was measured using a stop watch, and a Polar Heart Rate Monitor was used to measure the heart rate of the subjects. The Physiological Cost Index (PCI) was calculated for comparison.

Results: Ambulation using the IRGO (10.46 +/- 2.00 m/min) was significantly faster (p = 0.009) than ambulation using the bilateral KAFOs (5.51 +/- 4.30 m/min). The PCI demonstrated when walking with the IRGO (2.85 +/- 0.77 beats/m) was significantly lower (p = 0.0306) than that of the bilateral KAFOs (6.77 +/- 3.28 beats/m).

Conclusion: Paraplegic patients with T(12) - L(1) spinal cord lesions walk faster and more efficiently using the isocentric reciprocating gait orthosis as compared to using the bilateral KAFOs.

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