Effectiveness of audio feedback for partial weight-bearing in and outside the hospital: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness of partial weight-bearing (PWB) training with audio feedback in patients after total hip arthroplasty (THA).


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
Orthopedic clinic and patients' homes.


METHODS
Patients (N=38) after THA with trochanteric osteotomy.


METHODS
Patients were trained with (n=18) or without (n=20) audio feedback to perform PWB at a 10% body weight (BW) target load. PWB training started on day 2 or 3 postoperatively and was given once per day during the entire hospital stay.


METHODS
Mean peak load (%BW), and the percentage of steps below, equal to, and above the target load. Weight-bearing was measured using an insole pressure system on postoperative day 7 in the hospital during PWB training (condition 1 [C1]) and when patients walked unsupervised (condition 2 [C2]), and on postoperative day 21 at home (condition 3 [C3]).


RESULTS
PWB training with audio feedback resulted in better PWB (11.1% BW vs control, 21.9% BW; P=.006) at C1. The audio feedback group had more steps below the target load (21.4% vs control, 7.8%; P=.020) and fewer steps above the target load (15.6% vs control, 45.0%; P=.015). For C2 and C3, no significant differences were found between the patients receiving PWB training with and without audio feedback, for all outcome measures.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with THA who received audio feedback were able to accurately perform PWB at the prescribed target load during PWB training, but were unable to replicate the prescribed target load when they walked unsupervised in the hospital or at home.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine & Physical Therapy, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. h.hurkmans@erasmusmc.nl
Henri L
HL
Hurkmans
Johannes B
JB
Bussmann
Eric
E
Benda
Jan A
JA
Verhaar
Henk J
HJ
Stam
D000368:Aged; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D056228:Feedback, Sensory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010027:Osteotomy; D010045:Outpatients; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*