Energy of gait in below-knee casts with different soles.

This study aims to provide some guidelines for the use of soles on below-knee walking casts. Whole-body energy changes during the single limb support phase of the gait cycle have been quantified in twenty volunteer subjects fitted with below-knee casts and each wearing one of five soles in turn. Simple gait analysis was carried out with a Kistler force plate and an Apple II microcomputer, the data were sampled at 50 Hz. Three commercial soles and two 'home made' ones were used; it was generally found that the commercial products produced a more energy efficient gait. Some recommendations are included regarding the design of soles to be used in this clinically demanding situation.