Current advances in training orthopaedic patients to comply with partial weight-bearing instructions

Partial weight-bearing instructions are commonly given to orthopaedic patients and are an important part of post-injury and/or post-operative care. However, the ability of patients to comply with these instructions is poorly defined. Training methods for instructing these patients vary widely among institutions. Traditional methods of training include verbal instruction and use of a bathroom scale. Recent technological advances have created biofeedback devices capable of offering feedback to partial weight-bearing patients. Biofeedback devices have shown great promise in training patients to better comply with partial weight-bearing instructions. This review examines the background and significance of partial weight bearing and offers insights into current advances in training methods for partial weight-bearing patients. Hustedt JW, Blizzard DJ, Baumgaertner MR, Leslie MP, Grauer JN. Yale J Biol Med. 2012 Mar;85(1):119-25. Epub 2012 Mar 29. PMID: 22461750