Abstract

The literature concerning ambulation of normal and disabled persons - amputees, hemiplegics, and paraplegics - is reviewed. Also reviewed are studies ofthe energy cost of ambulating with assistive devices and of wheelchair locomotion. According to an average of the results available from the literature, a normal person walks at about 83 meters/min, with an energy expenditure (Ee) of0,063 kcal/min/kg and 0,00764 kcal/meter/kg. The disabled person walks more slowly, to avoid incurring an increase in Ee/minute. The more disabled the person, the more determinants of gait lost; thus, the more slowly he walks andthe less efficient he becomes in terms of Ee/kcal/unit distance. The importance of a common terminology when measuring the energy cost of ambulation andthe need to allow subjects to walk at their own most comfortable walking speedarestressed. Verf.-Referat