O026 The use of a new weight-bearing measuring device for accurate assessment and biofeedback training following lower limb injury and surgery

Abstract

Auditory and visual biofeedback has been utilized in stroke rehabilitation, trans-tibial amputation and the implantation of artificial joints in order to provide performance-relevant cues to both patient and clinician about the occurrence, duration, and location of a force component of motor performance. Biofeedback systems give more reliable, accurate and objective data compared to clinical examination and scales. The SmartstepTM system allows for the first time, rehabilitation to be carried out and accurately measured in all activities of daily living. Conclusions: Patients need to return to full weight-bearing rapidly following lower limb surgery. Use of the new patient-customized auditory feedback device provides a more accurate and rapid rehabilitation tool than previous methods. It was demonstrated that auditory biofeedback was useful in stimulating added weightbearing in those cases where there was a significant load difference between the affected and unaffected lower limb. Introduction: The achievement of normal and bilaterally symmetrical weight-bearing ability is an important pre-requisite in rehabilitation protocols following lower limb pathology or surgery. The restoration of unilateral weight-bearing asymmetries has up to the present time relied principally on visual assessment and instructive cues, patient self-observation, training in front of a full-length mirror and standing on a bathroom scale. These are frequently inaccurate and represent unscientific rehabilitation outcome measures.