Isakov E
Kinesiology Laboratory, Orthopedic Rehabilitation Department, Loewenstein Hospital, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ra'anana, Israel.
Eura Medicophys. 2007 Mar;43(1):21-6. Epub 2006 Oct 3.
Gait rehabilitation programs often require either partial weight-bearing (PWB) or encourage full weight-bearing (FWB) on the affected limb. Until recently, there was no objective and practical way to measure correct weight-bearing during ambulation. The present study evaluates a new in-shoe device (SmartStep, Andante Medical Devices Ltd.) for measuring the amount of weight on the affected limb and for biofeedback gait training.
The first part of the study aimed to establish the validity of the SmartStep by comparing the results obtained from this device with the results obtained from a force plate. The second part aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the SmartStep as a biofeedback method in patients who have been referred for FWB gait rehabilitation. Analysis was based on independent samples t-test and chi squared test for evaluating statistically significant differences between the 2 gait rehabilitation modes.
The SmartStep could repeat the same results with 0.53 kg error of mean. Statistically significant correlation was found between results obtained from the SmartStep and from the force plate (R2=0.9067 and P=0.004). The use of the SmartStep auditory biofeedback, significantly (P=0.00031) improved patients' weight-bearing over the affected limb in the experimental group (7.9 kg +/-5.28) as compared to the control group (0.7+/-2.41 kg).
The SmartStep proved to be very reliable since it generated significant repeatable results which correlated significantly with those obtained from a force plate. Patients recommended for FWB gait can significantly improve body weight loading over the affected limb by the use of the SmartStep auditory biofeedback.
步态康复计划通常要求患侧肢体部分负重（PWB）或鼓励完全负重（FWB）。直到最近，还没有客观实用的方法来测量行走过程中的正确负重情况。本研究评估一种新型的鞋内装置（SmartStep，Andante医疗设备有限公司），用于测量患侧肢体的负重情况以及进行生物反馈步态训练。
研究的第一部分旨在通过将该装置获得的结果与测力台获得的结果进行比较，来确定SmartStep的有效性。第二部分旨在评估SmartStep作为一种生物反馈方法在被推荐进行完全负重步态康复的患者中的有效性。分析基于独立样本t检验和卡方检验，以评估两种步态康复模式之间的统计学显著差异。
SmartStep能够以平均0.53千克的误差重复相同的结果。在SmartStep和测力台获得的结果之间发现了统计学上的显著相关性（R2 = 0.9067，P = 0.004）。与对照组（0.7±2.41千克）相比，实验组使用SmartStep听觉生物反馈显著（P = 0.00031）改善了患者患侧肢体的负重（7.9千克±5.28）。
SmartStep被证明非常可靠，因为它产生了显著的可重复结果，并且与测力台获得的结果显著相关。推荐进行完全负重步态康复的患者通过使用SmartStep听觉生物反馈可以显著改善患侧肢体的体重负荷。
