Beckles Verona, McCahill Jennifer L, Stebbins Julie, Mkandawire Nyengo, Church John C T, Lavy Chris
a Beit Cure International Hospital , Blantyre , Malawi .
b Oxford Gait Laboratory, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre , Headington , Oxford , UK .
Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol. 2016;11(3):247-50. doi: 10.3109/17483107.2014.932851. Epub 2014 Oct 15.
The African Disability Scooter (ADS) was developed for lower limb amputees, to improve mobility and provide access to different terrains. The aim of this study was to test the efficiency of the ADS in Africa over different terrains.
Eight subjects with a mean age of 12 years participated. Energy expenditure and speed were calculated over different terrains using the ADS, a prosthetic limb, and crutches. Repeated testing was completed on different days to assess learning effect.
Speed was significantly faster with the ADS on a level surface compared to crutch walking. This difference was maintained when using the scooter on rough terrain. Oxygen cost was halved with the scooter on level ground compared to crutch walking. There were no significant differences in oxygen consumption or heart rate. There were significant differences in oxygen cost and speed between days using the scooter over level ground, suggesting the presence of a learning effect.
This study demonstrates that the ADS is faster and more energy efficient than crutch walking in young individuals with amputations, and should be considered as an alternative to a prosthesis where this is not available. The presence of a learning effect suggests supervision and training is required when the scooter is first issued. Implications for Rehabilitation The African Disability Scooter: is faster than crutch walking in amputees; is more energy efficient than walking with crutches; supervised use is needed when learning to use the device; is a good alternative/adjunct for mobility.
非洲残疾踏板车（ADS）是为下肢截肢者开发的，旨在提高其行动能力并使其能够在不同地形上通行。本研究的目的是测试ADS在非洲不同地形上的效率。
8名平均年龄为12岁的受试者参与了研究。使用ADS、假肢和拐杖计算在不同地形上的能量消耗和速度。在不同日期完成重复测试以评估学习效果。
与使用拐杖行走相比，在平坦地面上使用ADS时速度明显更快。在崎岖地形上使用踏板车时，这种差异依然存在。与使用拐杖行走相比，在平坦地面上使用踏板车时氧气消耗减半。氧气消耗或心率没有显著差异。在平坦地面上使用踏板车的不同日期之间，氧气消耗和速度存在显著差异，表明存在学习效果。
本研究表明，对于年轻截肢者而言，ADS比使用拐杖行走更快且更节能，在没有假肢的情况下应将其视为一种替代方案。学习效果的存在表明首次发放踏板车时需要进行监督和培训。对康复的意义：非洲残疾踏板车在截肢者中比使用拐杖行走更快；比使用拐杖行走更节能；学习使用该设备时需要监督使用；是行动能力的良好替代方案/辅助工具。
