THE USE OF A NEW BIOFEEDBACK INSOLE WEIGHT-BEARING MEASURING DEVICE IN THE ASSESSMENT AND REHABILITATION OF SOCCER PLAYERS: A CASE STUDY

Abstract

Partial weight-bearing is usually prescribed to athletes during recovery from lower extremity injury or surgery. Current methods for partial weight-bearing gait training that include scales or force plate platforms systems are mainly subjective, and limited to static applications. Studies also confirm the inability of subjects to reproduce the aimed weight-bearing level. Auditory and visual biofeedback devices are also limited to static weight-bearing positions. A computerized air-insole auditory biofeedback system was utilized in the present study to measure weight-bearing in the heel and forefoot during locomotion, in the case of a soccer player who had undergone medial femoral condyle fracture surgery. The system was successful in accurately training and assessing the player during the three and two week periods respectively at 30% and 60% weight-bearing, until equal bilateral full weight-bearing and gait patterns were achieved.