Energy expenditure was determined by measuring oxygen (O
2) consumption in above knee (A/K) amputees who were wearing inteligent prosthesis. Intelligent prosthesis enables amputee to walk in various walking speeds by controlling swing phase with electronic regulation. The subjects were made up of 4 unilateral A/K amputees with average age of 22.2. Intelligent prosthesis was not effective in decreasing O
2 consumption during free level walking. In the slow walking (0.8 times of free level walking speed) as well as the fast walking (1.2 times of free level walking speed), intelligent prosthesis was effective in decreasing O
2 consumption and also the rate of decrease in energy expenditure is more significant in the slow walking than fast walking. It was concluded that the walking velocity was an important factor in energy expenditure of intelligent prosthetic ambulation.
View full abstract