A biofeedback cane system: instrumentation and subject application results

A system has been developed to measure axial cane forces while walking. An audio alarm can be programmed to sound within adjustable limits according to the cane load magnitude. Cane load sensors provide input to a portable data acquisition system which is designed to perform analog to digital conversion and store the force data using a precalibrated look-up table. The audio alarm is controlled on the basis of sensor look-up table values with high and low thresholds set as a ratio of subject weight. High-speed CMOS technology and the Motorola 68HC11 microprocessor were used in the design to limit power consumption. Ten normal adult subjects were used to evaluate the system. Measurements were made using the system with and without audio feedback. The system is suggested for further use in the characterization of feedback on cane and lower extremity load metrics.<
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