Within-session and between-session effects of auditory biofeedback training on center of pressure location during gait in patients with chronic ankle instability

Abstract

ObjectivesTo establish preliminary gait training dosage parameters for patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI) by determining the within-session and between-session effects of auditory biofeedback training on center of pressure (COP) location during gait. DesignObservational Longitudinal. SettingLaboratory. Participants19 participants with CAI, 8 participants who did not receive auditory biofeedback (NoFeedback group) and 11 participants who did receive auditory biofeedback (AuditoryFeedback group) over an 8-session 2-week intervention. Main outcome measuresCOP location was measured at the start and at each 5-min interval during treadmill walking across all eight 30-min training sessions. ResultsThe AuditoryFeedback group had significant within-session lateral-to-medial shifts in COP location during only session-1 at the 15-min (45% of stance; peak mean difference = 4.6 mm), 20-min (35% and 45%; 4.2 mm), and 30-min time intervals (35% and 45%; 4.1 mm). Furthermore, the AuditoryFeedback group had significant between-session lateral-to-medial shifts in COP location at session-5 (35–55% of stance; 4.2 mm), session-7 (35%–95%; 6.7 mm), and session-8 (35%–95%; 7.7 mm). The NoFeedback group had no significant changes in COP location within-sessions or between-sessions. ConclusionsParticipants with CAI who received auditory biofeedback during gait needed an average of 15-min during session-1 to meaningfully shift their COP location medially and 4-sessions before retaining the adapted gait pattern.