Energy expenditure of transfemoral amputees walking on a horizontal and tilted treadmill simulating different outdoor walking conditions.

Transfemoral amputees often report that walking on tilted pavements or on terrain with the prosthesis on the side of higher elevation is quite strenuous. This study investigates the energy expenditure of transfemoral amputees (n = 8) on a motorized treadmill, simulating different strenuous outdoor walking conditions. Oxygen uptake at self-selected speed of gait was measured during walking at three different treadmill positions: (i) Horizontal treadmill, (ii) 3% tilt in the sagittal plane and (iii) 3% tilt in both the sagittal and frontal plane of the treadmill.

Patients' experiences of living with irritable bowel syndrome.

Aim: This paper is a report of a study conducted to describe people's experiences, and meanings of these, while living with irritable bowel syndrome.

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by abdominal pain, diarrhoea and/or constipation, distension and bloating. Such symptoms are stigmatized in western societies.