Psychological Responses During Unweighted Ambulation of Patients with Transtibial Amputation: A Pilot Study

Janet A Mulcare, PhD
Kurt Jackson, MPT
David R Peterson, MPT
Dale Thomas, MPT
Charles Ho, MD, PhD

Body weight unloading (BWU) using stationary, free-standing systems is an emerging rehabilitaion technique for supporting a patient’s body weight. The purpose of this report was to examine the effects of harness support during ambulation upon metabolic and cardiovascular responses with transtbial amputation. Six patients-four men, two women-(mean age 49.7 years) participated. Patients walked for 6 minutes on a treadmill under six conditions:two speeds and three levels of BWU. The outcomes showed that heart rate was significantly lower at the selected pace for all BWU levels. The mean decrease in oxygen consumption was more pronounced at the self-selected pace for 20% and 40%BWU-3 and 6% (37.5in m/min) and 9 and 20% (self-selected), respectively. Metabolic and cardiovascular efficiency improved with greater increments of unloading. These preliminary findings suggest that BWU may be beneficial for persons with unilateral transtibial amputation in reducing the physiological demand of walking.

Physical Therapy vol. 2  no.3 1999