In modern rehabilitation medicine, dataization and precision have become the core trends. Especially in the fields of orthopedics, neurological rehabilitation, sports injury rehabilitation, etc., the traditional evaluation method of “judging by experience” is gradually being replaced by more scientific and objective equipment. Among them, the application of plantar pressure distribution system is particularly prominent, and it has become a standard equipment in many rehabilitation centers. So, how do rehabilitation centers use this system to evaluate the patient’s rehabilitation progress?
1. What is the plantar pressure distribution system?
The plantar pressure distribution system is a high-precision device that can dynamically and statically record the force of the plantar. Through the built-in sensor, the system can accurately capture the plantar pressure distribution of people at every moment during standing, walking, running and other actions, and form detailed images and data reports.
These data can reveal whether the gait is balanced, whether the center of gravity transfer is normal, whether the unilateral load is too high, and other issues, providing a clear direction for rehabilitation training.
2. Initial assessment: setting a baseline for rehabilitation
Before the rehabilitation process begins, the rehabilitation therapist will use the plantar pressure system to conduct an initial assessment of the patient. Through static standing test and dynamic gait test, key indicators such as the patient’s current plantar pressure distribution, gait characteristics, step frequency and stride, and force difference between left and right feet are obtained.
The significance of this step is to establish a rehabilitation baseline. Just like doing a physical examination, you need to know “the current physical condition” first, rehabilitation training must also clearly understand “where the problem is” before formulating a scientific and personalized rehabilitation plan.
3. Mid-term monitoring: tracking rehabilitation effects
Rehabilitation training is not achieved overnight, especially for projects with longer cycles such as postoperative rehabilitation, hemiplegia rehabilitation, and muscle strength recovery for the elderly. It is necessary to regularly evaluate the effects and adjust the plan in time.
The plantar pressure system can be tested repeatedly every week or every two weeks. By comparing and analyzing the data before and after, the rehabilitation therapist can clearly judge:
Whether the patient has learned the correct gait
Whether the bilateral weight bearing tends to be balanced
Whether the walking stability is improved
Whether the painful side is effectively released
This data tracking greatly improves the accuracy and efficiency of rehabilitation work and enhances the patient’s confidence in the rehabilitation process.
IV. Stage summary: for rehabilitation closed loop
When the rehabilitation cycle is over, the plantar pressure system can also be used as a “discharge assessment” tool. By comparing with the initial data, the improvement of the patient’s plantar force, gait, coordination, etc. is clear at a glance. This not only provides clear rehabilitation feedback for patients, but also provides a basis for doctors’ subsequent rehabilitation suggestions.
At the same time, the evaluation report generated by the system can also be saved as a medical file for subsequent review or cross-institutional rehabilitation relay.
