Effect of age on partial weight-bearing training.
Biofeedback devices are increasingly used to train orthopedic patients to comply with partial weight-bearing instructions for an injured or postoperative extremity. In a previous study, the authors showed that biofeedback was effective in training young participants. However, because many partial weight-bearing orthopedic patients are of advanced age, the current study was designed to test the effect of age on partial weight-bearing training. Fifty asymptomatic participants aged between 20 and 78 years completed 3 interventions: (1) verbal instructions on weight bearing, (2) training with a bathroom scale, and (3) training with a biofeedback device. Participants given only verbal touchdown weight-bearing instructions (25 lb) initially bore an average of 61.25±4.80 lb. This was reduced to 51.50±4.47 lb after training with a bathroom scale and further reduced to 30.01±2.33 lb after biofeedback training. Likewise, participants given verbal partial weight-bearing instructions (75 lb) initially bore an average of 89.06±5.58 lb. No improvement was observed with the use of a bathroom scale (average, 88.47±4.75 lb). After training with the biofeedback device, weight bearing improved to an average of 68.11±2.46 lb. Mixed-model analysis revealed that age was not a significant predictor of compliance. However, a higher body mass index and male sex were predictive of worse compliance and heavier weight bearing. Biofeedback training leads to superior compliance to weight-bearing instructions compared with verbal instructions or training with a bathroom scale. Because partial weight-bearing instructions are commonly given to orthopedic patients, biofeedback training may be appropriately considered in any age group with similar effect.
Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Joshua W
JW
Hustedt
Daniel J
DJ
Blizzard
Michael R
MR
Baumgaertner
Michael P
MP
Leslie
Jonathan N
JN
Grauer
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology / Q000379:methods* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*