Biofeedback's Effect on Orthosis Use: Insights from Continuous Six-Week Monitoring of Ankle Fracture Loading.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Limited understanding of postoperative adherence to ankle surgery instructions.
• Challenges in monitoring partial weight bearing (15-30 kg) and orthosis use in outpatient settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• Assess orthosis compliance and load frequency post-ankle surgery.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of continuous biofeedback for improving adherence.

Main Methods:

• Prospective randomized study with 84 ankle fracture patients.
• Pressure-sensitive insoles in orthoses to record step counts and loads.
• Intervention group received audiovisual biofeedback for exceeding 20 kg loads.

Main Results:

• Low adherence to partial weight bearing and orthosis use in both groups initially.
• Biofeedback group showed significantly higher orthosis utilization (57.4% vs. 29.1%).
• Continuous biofeedback improved adherence to prescribed loading and orthosis usage.

Conclusions:

• Continuous biofeedback is critical for enhancing patient adherence in ankle fracture rehabilitation.
• Biofeedback improves both orthosis use and prescribed weight-bearing compliance.
• Findings highlight the role of technology in optimizing postoperative recovery.