摘要：The object of this study was to clarify the influence of restriction on knee joint extension on physiological response during walking. Subjects consisted of eight healthy adult males with the average age was 26.1. They put on a knee brace that produces experimental flexion contracture in knee angle of 0 to 40 degrees, and were ordered to walk at their optimum walking speed on the horizontal treadmill. Measured items were oxygen intake, heart rate and cadence. In every measured items, a significant positive correlation was observed between knee angle and measured value. Oxygen intake at the knee angle 40 degrees was higher by approximately 31% than that at 0 degree. However, oxygen intake and heart rate at the knee angle 20 degrees indicated no significant difference from those at 0 degree, having no influence on difference in physiological response. In the next step, the influence of physiological exhaustion of a subject should be considered for clinical application.
关键词：flexion contracture in knee; Treadmill walking; oxygen intake; heart rate
