External feedback during walking improves measures of plantar pressure in individuals with chronic ankle instability

Background: Individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) commonly present with an altered walking gait which favors the lateral aspect of their foot. Current rehabilitative protocols are unable to address these gait modifications which are potentially hindering improvements in patient-reported outcomes. Protocols for gait retraining are scarce, thus there is a need to develop intervention strategies and instruments to specifically target foot motion to address gait deficits in individuals with CAI. Research Question: To determine the ability of a novel laser device providing external visual feedback (ExFB) during real-time to cause alterations in plantar pressure measures in individuals with CAI. Methods: Twenty-six participants with CAI walked on a treadmill while real-time plantar pressure measures were being recorded during a baseline and feedback condition. Baseline trials were compared with ExFB trials within each subject. Results: The ExFB condition was able to significantly reduce plantar pressures on the lateral midfoot and forefoot compared to baseline. A statistically significant medial shift in center of pressure trajectory was also observed in the ExFB condition compared to baseline. Significance: Real-time external feedback provided by a novel laser device has the ability to reduce lateral column plantar pressures during walking in individuals with CAI.