Reproducibilty of partial weight bearing.
OBJECTIVE
To find out whether partial weight bearing can be reproduced and retained.


METHODS
In vivo experiment in normal subjects.


METHODS
Training for partial weight bearing (25% of body weight) using bathroom scales.


METHODS
Reproducibility on force platform immediately after training and after 60 min.


RESULTS
Twelve subjects were asked to reproduce 25% of their body weight through either the dominant or non-dominant limb on force platform after three practice attempts on bathroom scales with concurrent visual feedback. No feedback was provided after the measurements on force plate. The process was repeated after 1h without any practice sessions in the interim period to find out if the weight practised could be retained. The mean 0-min reading was found to be 25.9% of body weight while the mean 60-min reading was found to be 24.4%. The p-value for the difference between the two means was found to be 0.3841.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that partial weight bearing instructions can be quantified and graded. Simple bathroom scales are sufficient to educate the patients and this can be practised at home after an initial period of supervision.
Malviya
A
A
Fairfield Hospital, Bury, 75 Stockdale Place, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3XH, UK. malviya7@aol.com
Richards
J
J
Jones
Richard K
RK
Udwadia
A
A
Doyle
J
J
D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*