FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Click on the frequently asked questions below to view our answers.
- What is SmartStep™?
- SmartStep™ is an innovative biofeedback and monitoring system for lower limb rehabilitation. The system enables physical therapists and clinicians to assess, treat and monitor patients who have compromised lower limb functions.
- Which patients can benefit from SmartStep™?
- Post-operative orthopedic and trauma patients
Patients who suffer from neurological impairment or disability
Sport injury patients - How does the SmartStep™ system work?
- SmartStep™ is composed of four integrated elements:
• A flexible, lightweight, force-sensing insole
• A wireless portable, miniature microprocessor control unit
• User-friendly software for gait analysis, display and long-term storage of patient performance records
• Multimedia interactive training software
The unique SmartStep™ insole measures the force applied by the heel and forefoot of the affected limb. The data is received and analyzed by the wireless miniature portable control unit worn around the ankle. Data is transmitted to a computer running the SmartStep™ software, which also maintains patient medical records and functions as an assessment and therapeutic tool. The interactive training software enables self training and exercise in front of a multimedia display, increasing patient motivation and performance, and improving the effectiveness of each therapy session. - What does the SmartStep™ software analyze?
- The SmartStep™ software analyzes four key gait parameters:
• Body Weight (BW) on the hind, fore and entire foot
• Heel-to-toe gait pattern
• The gait cycle temporal characteristics: stance and swing duration, cadence and symmetry. - What kind of feedback does the SmartStep™ control unit provide?
- SmartStep's control unit can be programmed to provide the patient with real-time auditory indications of correct or incorrect gait performance as per the specific patient’s prescribed regime.
- How is SmartStep™ patient data stored?
- All data, including a full list of all patient sessions and relevant information for each, is automatically saved in the patient’s file for easy access.
- How does SmartStep™ help clinicians?
- The system is an accurate tool that helps clinicians and physical therapists quantify patient performance, determine therapy goals and monitor patient progress. SmartStep™ also helps clinicians determine:
• The type of facilitation desired in the treatment
• The degree of physical independence
• The safest level of ambulation
- What types of treatment can SmartStep™ offer?
- Gait training exercises using auditory or visual display in different threshold levels as per patient ability and medical prescription
Gait training exercises with interactive multimedia display games - How does using SmartStep™ assist in rehabilitation and re-education?
- One of the most significant re-education stages is the ‘fixation’ or practice stage. At this vital juncture, the system facilitates:
• Self-treatment and exercise with multiple repetitions
• Instantaneous visual and auditory feedback throughout the entire exercise
• Practice in different environments, various platforms and various conditions
The interactive training software enables self training and exercise in front of a multimedia display, thus increasing patient motivation and performance, and increasing the effectiveness of each therapy session. - How were SmartStep’s results validated?
- Results of an analysis of SmartStep™ vs. force plate concluded that the overall accuracy of the SmartStep™ was statistically significant (p=0.004) with a high level of correlation (R²=0.907).
Analysis of the SmartStep™ vs. Gaitmate showed a high correlation with Gaitmate measurements time interval measurements for the Stance/ Swing/ Cycle Time (R²=0.996/0.995/0.997 respectively) and resulted in a relatively small standard error between methods. - What clinical studies have been done using SmartStep™?
- To date, clinical studies using SmartStep™ include:
1. “Learning partial weight bearing using a new body-weight measuring system”
2. “Validation of a new body-weight measuring system”
3. “Pilot Study- Gait rehabilitation following CRPS”
4. “Pilot Study- Gait rehabilitation following ACL reconstruction”
5. “In-patient short-term gait rehabilitation by means of new body-weight measuring system”
Presentations in PM&R conferences include:
1. Isakov E. , Avni A., Gait rehabilitation by means of a new body weight measuring system, 8th Congress of European Federation for research in Rehabilitation (EFRR) June 13-17th 2004, Ljubljana.
2. Avni A., Isakov E. , In- patient short-term gait rehabilitation by means of a new body weight measuring system, 5th Mesiterranean Congress of Physical Rehabilitaion Medicine, Sep. 30th – Oct 4th 2004, Antalya.
