Biofeedback in medical rehabilitation of patients following musculoskeletal surgery

Abstract

Objective : To summarize contemporary data on the use of biofeedback (BFB) in medical rehabilitation of patients following musculoskeletal surgery, evaluate the capabilities of various methods, and identify promising directions for their future application. Material and methods . A scientific literature review was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and eLibrary databases. The analysis examined 34 studies published between 2013 and 2026, including original clinical studies, randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. This review focused on the application of electromyographic and biomechanical BFB, stabilometric training, load distribution monitoring systems, and modern digital technologies following major joint replacement, arthroscopic interventions, and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Results . BFB techniques enable objective monitoring of muscle activity, weight distribution, postural stability, and movement parameters. Electromyographic and stabilometric BFB are the most widely investigated. Several studies demonstrate improvements in muscle activation, weight-bearing symmetry, postural balance, and individual gait parameters when BFB is incorporated into rehabilitation programs. However, not all studies report advantages over standard rehabilitation. Differences in the technologies used, clinical groups, and training protocols (initiation timing and duration) confound the comparison of results. Conclusion . BFB techniques can be used to complement comprehensive rehabilitation following musculoskeletal surgery. The choice of a method should be based on the patient's primary functional impairment. Further clinical studies evaluating long- term functional outcomes are needed to determine the optimal timing, duration, and parameters of BFB application.