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Why is Pathological Gait Inefficient?

A variety of abnormalities explain the inefficiencies seen in pathological gait. In many respects an understanding of where human locomotion is tuned to conserve energy provides a template for understanding what happens when pathhology intervenes.

Some aspects of pathology are not explicable by referring to the normal situation. Each type of pathology produces a different type of energy wasteage and understanding this can help in choosing the correct measures and techniques.

Pathological processes are useful for the basic scientist studying energy consumption during gait as they have the ability to highlight aspects of the energy transfer system where abnormality can lead to squandering of energy. In the most extreme situation the amounts of energy wasted during attempts at gait are in excess of the cardio-respiratory system’s ability to deliver and walking becomes impossible. Although there are social and behavioural aspects to the abandonment of walking as a response to disability, the commonest reason that individuals give up walking is either because it is too painful or it is too exhausting. Abandonment of walking in childhood is generally associated with excessive energy demands whilst pain is the commonest reason in adulthood.

This section of the seminar looks at a number of pathological conditions and reviews the literature associated with each form of disability and tries to highlight the ways in which energy is squandered abnormally.