Computerized activity monitoring preoperatively and postoperatively

'"Tips, Quips, and Pearls'" is a special section in The Journal of Foot & Ankle Surgery which is devoted to the sharing of ideas to make the practice of foot and ankle surgery easier. We invite our readers to share ideas with us in the form of special tips regarding diagnostic or surgical procedures, new devices or modifications of devices for making a surgical procedure a little bit easier, or virtually any other '"pearl'" that the reader believes will assist the foot and ankle surgeon in providing better care. Please address your tips to: John M. Schuberth, DPM, Editor, The Journal of Foot & Ankle Surgery, American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, 515 Busse Highway, Park Ridge, Il 60068-3150; Fax: 847-292-2022; E-mail:[email protected] One of the central goals of reconstructive foot and ankle surgery is restoration of or improvement in the quality of physical activity. Until recently, objective assessment of how well this goal has been attained has been elusive at best. Recent advances in activity monitoring have advanced sufficiently to help many clinicians and researchers objectively measure and potentially modulate activity. In this brief article, we describe our current experience with computerized activity monitoring. Use of modalities such as these may ultimately be able to monitor and dose levels of activity just as we do with a drug.