Real-Time Musical Feedback From Pressure-Sensing Insoles For Asymmetric Gait Retraining

Patients with lower limb osteoarthritis (OA) often exhibit pathologic adaptations leading to an asymmetric gait pattern. Previous literature has suggested that asymmetric gait may overload and drive progression of OA in contralateral joints. However, modifying walking patterns can be challenging without continuous guidance from a therapist. Recent studies have used visual, sonic, or haptic feedback to allow users to perceive their own performance and adjust accordingly. While these studies showed that most healthy subjects and smaller portions of affected patients successfully altered targeted biomechanics while using the biofeedback systems, these effects were not retained. Subjects also reported an aversion to using the systems, which generally provided only negative, unchanging feedback. In this study, we took a holistic and personalized approach to gait retraining by using progressive, reward-based auditory feedback based on wireless pressure-sensing insoles. We hypothesized that this sonification of plantar pressure data would lead to a more symmetric weight-bearing, step timing and pressure under the toes during terminal stance between the affected and healthy legs.