Early postoperative step count and walking time have greater impact on lower limb fracture outcomes than load-bearing metrics.

Introduction: Weight-bearing protocols for rehabilitation of lower extremity fractures are the gold standard despite not being data-driven. Additionally, current protocols are focused on the amount of weight placed on the limb, negating other patient rehabilitation behaviors that may contribute to outcomes. Wearable sensors can provide insight into multiple aspects of patient behavior through longitudinal monitoring.

Development of a step counting algorithm using the ambulatory tibia load analysis system for tibia fracture patients.

Unlabelled: : Ambulation can be used to monitor the healing of lower extremity fractures. However, the ambulatory behavior of tibia fracture patients remains unknown due to an inability to continuously quantify ambulation outside of the clinic. The goal of this study was to design and validate an algorithm to assess ambulation in tibia fracture patients using the ambulatory tibial load analysis system during recovery, outside of the clinic.

Center of pressure in a walking boot shifts posteriorly in patients following lower leg fracture.

Background: Studies have shown that the ambulatory behavior and amount of weight bearing performed by lower leg fracture patients, increases over time. It is likely that gait features, such as center of pressure (CoP), also change over time.

Research Question: The purpose of this study was to characterize changes in CoP exhibited by lower leg fracture patients wearing a walking boot during the recovery period.

The Relationship Between Intra-Abdominal Pressure and Body Acceleration During Exercise.

Objectives: High intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) may influence the development of pelvic floor disorders. We and others have used intravaginal pressure transducers to measure IAP in women during exercise and daily activities, but utilizing the transducer for long-term measurements creates compliance issues. Waist-worn accelerometers are prominent in research and may be a reliable alternative for approximating IAP.

Development of a novel intra-abdominal pressure transducer for large scale clinical studies.

Intra-abdominal pressure may be one of the few modifiable risk factors associated with developing a pelvic floor disorder. With one in eight women having surgery to correct a pelvic floor disorder in their lifetimes, intra-abdominal pressure may be a key to understanding the disease etiology and how to mitigate its occurrence and progression. Many traditional methods of intra-abdominal pressure measurement have limitations in data quality, environment of use, and patient comfort.