Design and Validation of a Real-Time Weight-Bearing Monitoring System for Lower Limb Rehabilitation
Honors Capstone Project
1
Advisor(s)
Joshua Gargac
Confirmation
1
Document Type
Paper
Location
ONU McIntosh Center; Wishing Well
Start Date
21-4-2026 2:15 PM
End Date
21-4-2026 2:30 PM
Abstract
Physical therapists play a vital role in guiding recovery from lower limb injuries, including fractures, ligament tears, and joint replacements, by prescribing rehabilitation programs that restore mobility, strength, and balance. A key component of recovery is maintaining proper partial weight-bearing to prevent re-injury and support tissue healing. However, once patients leave the clinical environment, therapists face a major challenge in ensuring adherence to prescribed weight-bearing limits. Current approaches rely heavily on patient self-monitoring and verbal instruction, which often result in inconsistent compliance and suboptimal recovery outcomes. To address this gap, a weight-bearing assistive device was developed that provides real-time feedback to patients during rehabilitation. The device is designed to help users maintain prescribed weight-bearing levels both inside and outside the clinic, improving compliance and reducing the risk of complications. By offering immediate, accessible feedback, the system has the potential to enhance patient confidence and overall rehabilitation effectiveness. To ensure the device’s reliability, validation of its weight measurement accuracy is essential. This study evaluates sensor performance by comparing device readings to those obtained from a Wii Balance Board, used as a low-cost force plate. The board is integrated with MATLAB code to generate real-time force data, serving as a reference standard. Participants will perform controlled weight-bearing tasks while data from both systems are collected simultaneously. Device accuracy will be assessed based on whether measurements fall within 10% of the reference values. This validation process is critical to confirming the device’s effectiveness for clinical and at-home rehabilitation use.
Recommended Citation
Arno, Madison, "Design and Validation of a Real-Time Weight-Bearing Monitoring System for Lower Limb Rehabilitation" (2026). ONU Student Research Colloquium. 13.
https://digitalcommons.onu.edu/student_research_colloquium/2026/Papers/13
Open Access
Available to all.
Design and Validation of a Real-Time Weight-Bearing Monitoring System for Lower Limb Rehabilitation
ONU McIntosh Center; Wishing Well
Physical therapists play a vital role in guiding recovery from lower limb injuries, including fractures, ligament tears, and joint replacements, by prescribing rehabilitation programs that restore mobility, strength, and balance. A key component of recovery is maintaining proper partial weight-bearing to prevent re-injury and support tissue healing. However, once patients leave the clinical environment, therapists face a major challenge in ensuring adherence to prescribed weight-bearing limits. Current approaches rely heavily on patient self-monitoring and verbal instruction, which often result in inconsistent compliance and suboptimal recovery outcomes. To address this gap, a weight-bearing assistive device was developed that provides real-time feedback to patients during rehabilitation. The device is designed to help users maintain prescribed weight-bearing levels both inside and outside the clinic, improving compliance and reducing the risk of complications. By offering immediate, accessible feedback, the system has the potential to enhance patient confidence and overall rehabilitation effectiveness. To ensure the device’s reliability, validation of its weight measurement accuracy is essential. This study evaluates sensor performance by comparing device readings to those obtained from a Wii Balance Board, used as a low-cost force plate. The board is integrated with MATLAB code to generate real-time force data, serving as a reference standard. Participants will perform controlled weight-bearing tasks while data from both systems are collected simultaneously. Device accuracy will be assessed based on whether measurements fall within 10% of the reference values. This validation process is critical to confirming the device’s effectiveness for clinical and at-home rehabilitation use.