Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10397/79978
PIRA download icon_1.1View/Download Full Text
Title: Changes in gait and plantar foot loading upon using vibrotactile wearable biofeedback system in patients with stroke
Authors: Ma, CZH 
Zheng, YP 
Lee, WCC 
Issue Date: 2018
Source: Topics in stroke rehabilitation, 2018, v. 25, no. 1, p. 20-27
Abstract: Background: Patients with stroke walk with excessive foot inversion at the affected side, which may disturb their balance and gait.
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of instant biofeedback of plantar force at the medial and lateral forefoot regions on gait and plantar foot loading in patients with stroke.
Methods: A total of eight patients with hemiplegic stroke, who had flexible rearfoot varus deformity at the affected side, participated in this study. A vibrotactile biofeedback system was developed and evaluated. It analyzed forces at the medial and lateral forefeet, and instantly provided vibration clues when the plantar force at medial forefoot was less than a threshold. Each subject's three-dimensional gait parameters and plantar-pressure distribution during walking were measured under two experimental conditions (sequence randomized): with and without the device turned on (Trial-registration number: ChiCTR-IPB-15006530andHKCTR-1853).
Results: Providing biofeedback significantly reduced the foot inversion and increased the mid-stance foot-floor contact area and medial midfoot plantar pressure of the affected limb, bringing the values of these parameters closer to those of the unaffected side. The biofeedback also significantly reduced the unaffected side's excessive knee flexion and hip abduction.
Conclusions: There were signs of improved foot loading characteristics and gait upon provision of instant vibrotactile biofeedback of plantar force. The positive results of this study further support the development of wearable biofeedback devices for improving gait of patients with stroke.
Keywords: Stroke
Foot inversion
Plantar pressure
Instant biofeedback
Gait training
Smart wearable device
Publisher: Thomas Land Publishers
Journal: Topics in stroke rehabilitation 
ISSN: 1074-9357
DOI: 10.1080/10749357.2017.1380339
Rights: © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation on 27 Sept. 2017 (published online), available at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/10749357.2017.1380339
Appears in Collections:Journal/Magazine Article

Files in This Item:
File Description SizeFormat 
Zheng_Changes_Gait_Plantar.pdfPre-Published version1.18 MBAdobe PDFView/Open
Open Access Information
Status open access
File Version Final Accepted Manuscript
Access
View full-text via PolyU eLinks SFX Query
Show full item record

Page views

114
Last Week
1
Last month
Citations as of Mar 24, 2024

Downloads

141
Citations as of Mar 24, 2024

SCOPUSTM   
Citations

30
Last Week
0
Last month
Citations as of Mar 28, 2024

WEB OF SCIENCETM
Citations

27
Last Week
1
Last month
Citations as of Mar 28, 2024

Google ScholarTM

Check

Altmetric


Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.