Article

This study aimed to develop a low-cost real-time biofeedback system to
assist with rehabilitation for patients following total knee replacement (TKR)
and to assess its feasibility of use in a post-TKR patient case study design with
a comparison group. METHOD: The biofeedback system consisted of Microsoft
Kinect(TM) and Nintendo Wii balance board with a dedicated software. A six-week
inpatient rehabilitation program was augmented by biofeedback and tested in a
single patient following TKR. Three patients underwent a six weeks standard
rehabilitation with no biofeedback and served as a control group. Gait, function
and pain were assessed and compared before and after the rehabilitation. RESULTS:
The biofeedback software incorporated real time visual feedback to correct limb
alignment, movement pattern and weight distribution. Improvements in pain,
function and quality of life were observed in both groups.
The strong improvement
in the knee moment pattern demonstrated in the case study indicates feasibility
of the biofeedback-augmented intervention. CONCLUSION:
This novel biofeedback
software has used simple commercially accessible equipment that can be feasibly
incorporated to augment a post-TKR rehabilitation program. Our preliminary
results indicate the potential of this biofeedback-assisted rehabilitation to
improve knee function during gait. Research is required to test this hypothesis.
Implications for Rehabilitation The real-time biofeedback system developed
integrated custom-made software and simple low-cost commercially accessible
equipment such as Kinect and Wii board to provide augmented information during
rehabilitation following TKR. The software incorporated key rehabilitation
principles and visual feedback to correct alignment of the lower legs, pelvic and
trunk as well as providing feedback on limbs weight distribution. The case study
patient demonstrated greater improvement in their knee function where a more
normal biphasic knee moment was achieved following the six-week biofeedback intervention.

Langue : ANGLAIS