Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026
Movement Retraining using Real-time Feedback of Performance
Published on: January 17, 2013
Biofeedback training for partial weight bearing in patients after total hip arthroplasty
Zoltan Pataky1, Diego De León Rodriguez, Alain Golay
1Service of Therapeutic Education for Chronic Diseases, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre, Department of Community Medicine, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. zoltan.pataky@hcuge.ch
Objective:
To evaluate a new biofeedback training method based on visual delivery of information in patients after total hip arthroplasty (THA).
Design:
Intervention study with prepost design.
Setting:
Hospitalized care in a university referral center.
Participants:
Patients (N=11) (age 56.1+/-9.0 y) shortly after THA.
Intervention:
A mobile system has been used for biofeedback training with the predefined partial weight bearing (PWB) threshold of 20 kg. After the learning period, 4 retention tests, consisting of 3 successive walking cycles without feedback, were recorded for each patient: (1) acquisition test, (2) early retention test (after 30 min), (3) the day after, and (4) after 2 days.
Main Outcome Measure:
The pressure error and the maximum pressure force at each step before and after biofeedback training.
Results:
A significant difference of pressure errors between the beginning and the end of the learning period has been measured (42.5+/-22.5 N vs 3.7+/-11.4N, P<.001). However, there was no difference between the beginning of the learning period and different retention tests (after 30 minutes, after 1 day, after 2 days). In terms of maximal pressure force, there was a difference between the beginning and the end of learning (251 N vs 195 N, P<.05). The retention tests did not show significant differences compared with the baseline values.
Conclusions:
THA patients were able to use the defined PWB during a short period of time and shortly after stopping the training; both the pressure errors and the maximal pressure force attended the values before training. These results confirm the difficulties to achieve PWB in patients after THA.
