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PHYS THER
Vol. 76, No. 12, December 1996, pp. 1313-1319
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Article

Effects of assistive devices on cardiorespiratory demands in older adults

MP Foley, B Prax, R Crowell, and T Boone

Department of Physical Therapy, College of St Scholastica, Duluth, MN 55811, USA.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to quantify and compare cardiorespiratory demands imposed during unassisted ambulation and ambulation with various assistive devices in older adults. SUBJECTS: Ten volunteers (3 male, 7 female) who were not dependent on assistive devices for ambulation, with a mean age 60.3 years (SD = 8.4, range = 50-74), participated. METHODS: Immediately after a 5-minute steady-state session with each of the assistive devices tested (standard walker, wheeled walker, and single-point cane), subjects ambulated for 2 minutes at a self-selected speed with each device and unassisted while selected cardiorespiratory and metabolic variables were monitored. RESULTS: Ambulation with the use of a standard walker was shown to require 212% more oxygen per meter than unassisted ambulation and 104% more oxygen per meter than ambulation with a wheeled walker. Ambulation with a standard walker elicited 200% and 98% higher heart rate per meter as compared with unassisted ambulation and ambulation with a wheeled walker, respectively. No difference was detected for physiologic demands between unassisted ambulation and ambulation with a cane. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION: The decision to prescribe a wheeled walker versus a standard walker may be clinically important with patients who have impaired cardiorespiratory systems.


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