An insole sensor for recording weight bearing behavior during tibial fracture rehabilitation

Partial weight bearing prescriptions for tibial fracture care are made with little data to support their efficacy. To provide long term tibial load data that can be used to study, guide, and monitor partial weight bearing, we developed a novel load sensor that can record the load placed on an injured limb over a two-week period of time. The prototype load sensor demonstrated high linearity, low hysteresis and low static and dynamic drift. Preliminary human testing on the load sensor demonstrated the ability of the load sensor to capture load profile during underfoot recording. Presented are the bench testing and human testing data on the prototype load sensor verifying the design of an economic and durable system that allows for 2 weeks of recording of normal loads experienced by the tibia. This design motivates a next generation approach for use in clinical trials that will enable clinicians and researchers to improve current partial weight bearing prescriptions, thus improving tibial fracture outcomes.