The effect of spatial and temporal parameters on the energy expenditure of orthotic gait of paraplegic

Objectives: although for those spinal cord injury (sci) patients with paralysis of the legs butnot at arms, the primary means of mobility post injury is the manual wheelchair, there aremany physiological and psychological advantages to standing and walking, such asimprovement in respiratory function, lower limb weight bearing and preventing osteoporosis,pressure sores prevention etc. high metabolic energy expenditure of orthotic ambulation incontrast with the manual wheelchair is the most limitation of the orthotic gait currency forsci patients.methods: in the present study, the effect of the spatial and temporal parameters on themechanical energy expenditure of the paraplegic locomotion was investigated in search for amodified gait pattern which provides lower energy expenditure. a 3d four segment 6-dofmodel of the paraplegic locomotion was developed based on the data acquired from anexperimental study on a single spine cord injury subject. a response surface methodology(rsm) was then performed to determine the impact of the kinematical parameters on theresulting the joint torques.results: according to the rsm analysis, the whole body forward inclination around thestance leg has been recognized as the most effective kinematics parameter on the totalmuscular effort as an index of energy expenditure during the paraplegic gait.conclusion: it was concluded that with a reduction on the step length accompanied withcadence increasing in a modified gait pattern, the paraplegic individuals are expected toachieve improved energy expenditure.