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. 2015 Feb;23(1):12-7.
doi: 10.5455/aim.2015.23.12-17. Epub 2015 Feb 22.

Physiological cost index and comfort walking speed in two level lower limb amputees having no vascular disease

Teuta Osmani Vllasolli  1 , Nikola Orovcanec  2 , Beti Zafirova  2 , Blerim Krasniqi  3 , Ardiana Murtezani  1 , Valbona Krasniqi  1 , Bukurije Rama  1
Affiliations

Physiological cost index and comfort walking speed in two level lower limb amputees having no vascular disease

Teuta Osmani Vllasolli et al. Acta Inform Med. 2015 Feb.

Abstract

Background: The Physiological Cost Index (PCI) was introduced by MacGregor to estimate the energy cost in walking of healthy people, also it has been reported for persons with lower limb amputation, walking with prosthesis.

Objective: To assess energy cost and walking speed in two level lower limb amputation: transfemoral and transtibial amputation and to determine if the age and prosthetic walking supported with walking aids have impact on energy cost and walking speed.

Methods: A prospective cross sectional study was performed in two level lower limb amputees with no vascular disease who were rehabilitated at the Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo. The Physiological Cost Index (PCI) was assessed by five minutes of continuous indoor walking at Comfort Walking Speed (CWS).

Results: Eighty three lower limb amputees were recruited. It is shown relevant impact of level of amputation in PCI (t=6.8, p<0.001) and CWS (T=487, p<0.001). The great influence of using crutches during prosthetic walking in PCI (ANOVA F= 39.5 P < 0.001) and CWS (ANOVA F=32.01, P <0.001) has been shown by One Way ANOVA test. The correlation coefficient (R) showed a significant correlation of age with PCI and CWS in both groups of amputation.

Conclusions: Walking with transfemoral prosthesis or using walking aids during prosthetic ambulation is matched with higher cost of energy and slower walking speed. Advanced age was shown with high impact on PCI and CWS in both groups of amputees.

Keywords: age; amputation; comfort walking speed; crutches; physiological cost index.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTEREST: NONE DECLARED.

Figures

Graph 1
Graph 1
Linear Regression - Transfemoral amputees y variable: PCI x variable: Age (year)
Graph 2
Graph 2
Linear Regression - Transfemoral amputees y variable: CWS x variable: Age (year)
Graph 3
Graph 3
Linear Regression - Transtibial amputees y variable: PCI x variable: Age (year)
Graph 4
Graph 4
Linear Regression - Transtibial amputees y variable: CWS x variable: Age (year)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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