Walking cane designed to assist partial weight bearing.

The device described indicates accurately the amount of weight borne on an affected leg. This device consists of two major elements: a weight measuring system incorporated in the walking cane's body, and a feedback mechanism situated in the cane's handle. By means of vibration or lights the patient and the therapist can determine whether or not the affected leg is bearing the prescribed weight. Thirty patients (10 with fractures, 10 with vascular disorders, and 10 below-knee amputees) and 10 healthy people participated in the study. The study concluded that young patients used the feedback information more readily than older patients. The intention in designing such a device is to help orthopedically disabled patients during their convalescence, to minimize strain on ischemic legs, and to assist amputees in monitoring weight-bearing postoperative walking.