Effect of unilateral and bilateral knee immobilisation on the energy cost of walking

Abstract

Purpose. The study was undertaken to compare the energy expenditure and heart rate during normal walking, walking with one knee immobilised and bilateral knees immobilised. Methods. The oxygen consumption and heart rate of 21 normal adults were measured during three minutes of walking on a treadmill at 0.67 ms-1 and 1.12 ms-1 under normal walking, conditions of the right knee immobilised and bilateral knees immobilised. Results. The subjects' heart rates increased significantly more during fast walking than slow walking in each condition of immobilisation. The maximal increase in heart rate was 40 beats per minute when walking with bilateral knee immobilisation at fast speed. Oxygen consumption increased more during fast walking than slow walking. Conclusion. These results demonstrate that bilateral knee immobilisation increased the physiological cost of walking, particularly at fast speed. Therapists should consider the cardiovascular fitness and muscular endurance of subjects with knee immobilisation during gait training.