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Transportable two-dimensional gait assessment: routine service experience for orthotic provision
1Orthotic Research & Locomotor Assessment Unit, Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic & District Hospital NHS Trust, Oswestry, Shropshire, UK. John.Stallard@rjahoh-tr.wmids.nhs.uk
Purpose:
The purpose of the pilot service was to establish the potential of the newly developed system to achieve, in a community setting, more effective orthotic outcomes for patients in whom alignment of ground reaction force is an important treatment objective.
Methods:
Twelve visits were arranged to a paediatric community physiotherapy department. Up to six patients at each visit were selected for assessment of their lower limb orthotic prescription. The patient's gait was assessed using the video vector generator to determine alignment of ground reaction force. Where necessary, adjustments to the orthotic set-up were made to achieve more closely the stated objective. At the conclusion a specification of the orthosis was agreed.
Results:
In only two of 61 assessments that were conducted was it not possible to achieve a useful outcome.
Conclusions:
Improvements in biomechanical alignment were achieved in more than 68% of assessments. The pilot service was sufficiently successful for it to be extended to a routine clinical service.