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The relative efficiency of ‘swing through’ gait on axillary, elbow and Canadian crutches compared to normal walking

1979; Elsevier BV; Volume: 1; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0141-5425(79)90011-6

2213-9478

M. Sankaran-Kutty, J. Stallard, G. K. Rose,

Noise Effects and Management

The subjective impression of many patients using 'swing through' gait, in which the body is swung over the crutches with both feet clear of the ground, is that elbow crutches are less stable and more difficult to use than conventional underarm crutches (known as axillary crutches). A study was undertaken on ten normal subjects to see if objective measurements of speed and relative energy expenditure by means of heart rate monitoring via radio telemetry could confirm these impressions when both types of crutch were compared to normal walking. The results unexpectedly showed that heart rates were higher for axillary crutches, even though all subjects considered them easier to use than elbow crutches. The increase in heart rate using axillary crutches requires further study, but it was considered that it might in part be due to pressure on the thoracic cage. Because of this, Canadian crutches, which are a compromise between the two former types and do not bear on the thorax, were similarly monitored. Results from this third trial showed a marked decrease in heart rate with a marginal increase in speed over both axillary and elbow crutches. Because of this a recommendation is made for Canadian crutches to be used more frequently.