QuDoS awards

Are you an Orthotist working with MS. Do you want to demonstrate your role in the  treatment of MS? The QuDoS awards is now live www.qudos-ms.com. Details of the various categories and how to enter is on the website.

BAPO Bulletin April 2015

The Executive Committee are meeting on 25^th April to set the workstreams for 2015 for the association. Issues were raised at the AGM by the membership which will be discussed and an action plan will be circulated in the next month.

Professional Affairs Committee are meeting on Friday 24^th April. Included in the Agenda are progression of treatment posters; review of our standards in light of HCPCs intended update; consideration of Jonathan Wright’s proposal for a professional review; progression of regional meetings; developments with NICE and much more!

Insurance renewal

The BAPO Insurance policies renews on 01/05/15 and if by any chance you have not returned your insurance renewal form before this date then you will no longer covered under the BAPO Membership Policies so please return your form ASAP.

HCPC

HCPC have 2 consultations running at the moment.

The first is on planned changes to their Standards of conduct, performance and ethics. The consultation will run from 1 April until 26 June 2015, expecting that new standards will be in place in early 2016.


The second is on a planned rise to their annual fees.

To see the consultations and to take part visit http://www.hcpc-uk.org/aboutus/consultations/

Department of Health NHS England

New handbooks to support personalised care planning for long term conditions - NHS England has published three new handbooks to support commissioners and practitioners in planning services for people with long term conditions (LTCs), in order to achieve more effective, personalised care for this group. LTCs currently account for £7 of every £10 health and social care spend in England. The guides cover three key areas: identifying people in the population with LTCs that are most vulnerable and at risk of unplanned hospital admissions; planning personalised care and support; and best-practice multi-disciplinary working across professional and organisational boundaries.  The handbooks are available on NHS England’s website at http://www.england.nhs.uk/resources/resources-for-ccgs/out-frwrk/dom-2/ltc-care

Surveys

Latrobe university is running a survey open to 30^th June, 2015. They are interested in work related injuries for Prothetists and Orthotists and would like to survey the profession in the UK. You can access the survey through the link on the BAPO website front page or by clicking the link below https://latrobe.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_b4sP2QYFtTB8UuN

James Lind Alliance are looking for Orthotists to assist on the Early OA of Hip and Knee survey which aims to identify your most pressing unanswered questions about the diagnosis, surgical and non-surgical treatment, and likely outcomes of early OA of hip and/ or knee. This will ensure that future research can be prioritised according to the needs of patients, carers and health professionals.

The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete, so please take this opportunity to influence the future of early OA of hip and knee.

The Survey can be found here  http://tiny.cc/lb71vx  Further information here http://tiny.cc/3d71vx

Short courses

Advanced orthotic technology: functional stimulation for drop foot and associated weakness in neurologically impaired gait.

Saturday 16^th May- Birmingham cost £135Critical Appraisal course

Thursday 18^th  June  Seacroft Hospital, Leeds   £70

For more details on our short course programme, please visit our website www.bapo.com

Taycare - Orthotist Vacancy

For full details of this vacancy please click here

Ottobock - Commercial Manager Prosthetics & Orthotics: Egham

For full details of this vacancy please click here

Effectiveness of Total Contact Insoles in Patients with Plantar Fasciitis

Hilda Alcântara Veiga Oliveira, Anamaria Jones, Emília Moreira, Fabio Jennings and Jamil Natour

Abstract

Objective To assess the effectiveness of total contact insoles (TCI) in patients with plantar fasciitis (PF).

Methods A double-blind randomized controlled trial was carried out with intention-to-treat analysis. Seventy-four patients were randomly allocated to use a TCI made of ethylene vinyl acetate (study group, n = 37) or a flat insole (control group, n = 37). The following assessment tools were used: visual analog scale for pain while walking and at rest, Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) for quality of life, Foot Function Index and Foot Health Status Questionnaire for foot function, 6-min walk test (6MWT), and baropodometer FootWalk Pro for plantar pressure analysis. The groups were evaluated by a blinded assessor at baseline and after 45, 90, and 180 days.

Results The groups were homogeneous for the majority of variables at baseline. The over-time comparisons show a statistical difference between the groups for pain while walking (p = 0.008) and the 6MWT (p = 0.010). Both groups showed significant improvements in pain at rest, foot function, and some quality of life variables (physical functioning, bodily pain, vitality, and social functioning), with no significant statistical differences between them. The baropodometer recorded no changes from the use of the insoles.

Conclusion A TCI can be used to reduce pain while walking and to increase walking distance in individuals with PF.

Source: http://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2015/03/10/jrheum.140429.abstract 

Effects of Ankle–Foot Orthoses on Functional Recovery after Stroke: A Propensity Score Analysis Based on Japan Rehabilitation Database

Ryo Momosaki, Masahiro Abo, Shu Watanabe, Wataru Kakuda, Naoki Yamada, Shoji Kinoshita 

The purpose of the present study was to investigate potential effects of ankle–foot orthoses (AFOs) on the functional recovery of post-acute stroke patients following rehabilitation.

Subjects and Methods

This study is a retrospective cohort study. Participants were in-hospital stroke patients registered in the Japan Rehabilitation Database between 2005 and 2012. A total of 1862 patients were eligible after applying exclusion criteria. Propensity score analysis was applied to adjust for potential bias and to create two comparable groups. An additional subset analysis focused on Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores on admission.

Results

In this sample, 30.7% of 1863 eligible patients were prescribed AFOs. Propensity score matched analysis showed that patients with AFOs had significantly higher scores than those without them for discharge FIM (mean: 91.3 vs 85.8; p=0.02), FIM gain (mean: 28.9 vs 23.5; p<0.001), and FIM efficiency (mean: 0.27 vs 0.22; p<0.001). Inverse probability weighting analysis showed similar results. In the subset analysis, patients with AFOs had significantly higher discharge FIM compared with those without them in the low admission FIM subgroup only. In addition, patients with AFOs performed independent exercise more than those without them (p<0.001).

Conclusions

These data suggest that stroke survivors may have better functional recovery if they are prescribed an AFO than if they are not prescribed an AFO. The use of AFOs is considered to be a feasible option to improve functional recovery of stroke rehabilitation patients.

Source: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0122688 

Rehabilitation Interventions for Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review

In a systemic review of the literature, Abbaskhanian et al suggests that clinicians should depend on their clinical experience and patient values to handle the clinical decision-making process in determining the prescription of AFOs.

The found evidence encouraging the use of an articulated ankle foot orthosis (AFO) by children with CP because of the enhanced function when using this type of orthosis. Yet, other studies indicated the advantages of a rigid orthosis for children with greater disabilities involving spasticity and contracture. 

http://cdn.neoscriber.org/cdn/serve/70/08/7008dff33bed20188825836989b3259d1b77212b/jpr-03-361.pdf

Opcare - Orthotists, Various Positions

Please click here for further information on the job advertisements available.

BAPO Measuring Change Document - April 2015

Measuring Change: An Introduction to Clinical Outcome Measures in Prosthetics and Orthotics

In today’s demanding and pressured healthcare environment it is essential that the effects of medical interventions, including prosthetic and orthotic care, are accurately assessed and recorded. Outcome measures (OMs) are useful in assessment, clinical decision making and evidencing the outcomes of treatment to either the service user or third parties. OMs also facilitate clinical audit and research. 

The Measuring Change document is the result of a one year project by a working group formed by members of the BAPO Professional Affairs and Education committees. The working group initially conducted a survey of Prosthetists and Orthotists in the UK to determine existing use and knowledge of OMs. Following this, a small group of OMs were selected and literature reviews were conducted to identify the measures’ psychometric properties in addition to normal data and minimal clinically important difference values. The included OMs are the numeric pain rating scale (NRS-11), socket comfort score (SCS), 10 metre walk test (10MWT), timed up and go (TUG) and disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH). The Measuring Change document includes the results of the reviews, instructions on how to use and interpret the selected OMs, a summary of the survey results, and an introduction to relevant psychometric terms and concepts. The primary aim of the document is to enable Prosthetists and Orthotists to understand and use simple OMs in clinical practice to improve patient care.

Measuring Change is available for BAPO members to download from the members section of BAPOnline. Non-members may request hard copies (paperback, 40 pages, full colour) from enquiries@bapo.com at a cost of £10.

Opcare - Orthotist, Various

Please click here to view job advertisement.