The British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (BAPO) was established to encourage high standards of prosthetic and orthotic practice. It is committed to Continued Professional Development and education to enhance standards of prosthetic and orthotic care. BAPO is the only UK body that represents the interests of prosthetic and orthotic professionals and associate members to their employers, BAPO enjoys the support of a high majority of the profession as members.
Friday, 21 November 2014
Webinar - Making Rehabilitation Work Better for People - Save the Date 1 December 2014
Thursday, 20 November 2014
Thursday, 6 November 2014
Friday, 31 October 2014
Exercise improves gait, reaction time and postural stability in older adults with type 2 diabetes and neuropathy
Wednesday, 22 October 2014
Prosthetist Vacancies - Opcare - Roehampton, Newcastle & Cambridge
Tuesday, 21 October 2014
Clinical Audit Awareness Week
Trulife - Orthotist - North West London & The North West/Midlands
Monday, 13 October 2014
Opcare Job Advertisement - 3 x Orthotist positions, England
Sunday, 12 October 2014
UNISON NHS Agenda for Change Action
UNISON asks that if a member is employed directly by an NHS organisation on Agenda for Change terms and conditions then they are covered by the action and able to show support. Members who choose to strike would lose pay as a result.
If a member is self employed, or employed under a contract for services, then they are not covered by the action. If this is the case we would ask that they do not cross picket lines or cover the work of striking workers. These BAPO members cannot be asked to strike or take action short of strike action.
It is unlikely that any workplaces will close as a result of the strike however if so then any BAPO members should be informed by their employer and receive their full normal pay.
UNISON and other trade unions will likely be maintaining picket lines at entrances to workplaces. Pickets are allowed to peacefully persuade workers and others not to cross the picket line but anyone who decides to cross must be allowed. Anyone crossing the picket line will also likely be asked to not undertake any duties of to cover those who are on strike.
Of course it is an individual decision and BAPO members can explain that they have not been balloted and are not on strike.
The background to the strike is here http://www.unison.org.uk/at-work/health-care/key-issues/nhs-pay/home/ .
Friday, 10 October 2014
Monday, 6 October 2014
Ankle-foot orthoses in children with cerebral palsy: a cross sectional population based study of 2200 children
Ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) is the most frequently used type of orthosis in children with cerebral palsy (CP). AFOs are designed either to improve function or to prevent or treat muscle contractures.
The purpose of the present study was to analyse the use of, the indications for, and the outcome of using AFO, relative to age and gross motor function in a total population of children with cerebral palsy.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed of 2200 children (58% boys, 42% girls), 0-19 years old (median age 7 years), based on data from the national Swedish follow-up programme and registry for CP. To analyse the outcome of passive ankle dorsiflexion, data was compared between 2011 and 2012.
The Gross motor classification system (GMFCS) levels of included children was as follows: I (n = 879), II (n = 357), III (n = 230), IV (n = 374) and V (n = 355).
Results: AFOs were used by 1127 (51%) of the children. In 215 children (10%), the indication was to improve function, in 251 (11%) to maintain or increase range of motion, and 661 of the children (30%) used AFOs for both purposes.
The use of AFOs was highest in 5-year-olds (67%) and was more frequent at lower levels of motor function with 70% at GMFCS IV-V. Physiotherapists reported achievement of functional goals in 73% of the children using AFOs and maintenance or improvement in range of ankle dorsiflexion in 70%.
Conclusions: AFOs were used by half of the children with CP in Sweden.
The treatment goals were attained in almost three quarters of the children, equally at all GMFCS levels. AFOs to improve range of motion were more effective in children with a more significant decrease in dorsiflexion at baseline.
Author: Maria WingstrandGunnar HägglundElisabet Rodby-Bousquet
Credits/Source: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2014, 15:327
Wednesday, 1 October 2014
Sunday, 28 September 2014
AHP Healthy Conversations
Friday, 19 September 2014
The effectiveness of combined bracing and exercise in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis based on SRS and SOSORT criteria: a prospective study
Even if the SRS criteria propose a prospective design, until now only one out of 6 published studies was prospective. Our purpose was to evaluate the effects of bracing plus exercises following the SRS and the international Society on Scoliosis Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Treatment (SOSORT) criteria for AIS conservative treatment.
Methods: Study design/setting: prospective cohort study nested in a clinical database of all outpatients of a clinic specialized in scoliosis conservative treatment.Patient sample: seventy-three patients (60 females), age 12 years 10 months +/-17 months, 34.4+/-4.4 Cobb degrees, who satisfied SRS criteria were included out of 3,883 patients at first evaluation.Outcome measures: Cobb angle at the end of treatment according to SRS criteria : (unchanged; worsened 6[degree sign] or more, over 45[degree sign] and surgically treated, and rate of improvement of 6[degree sign] or more).Braces were prescribed for 18-23 hours/day according to curves magnitude and actual international guidelines.
Weaning was gradual after Risser 3. All patients performed exercises and were managed according to SOSORT criteria.
Results in all patients were analyzed according to intent-to-treat at the end of the treatment. Funding and Conflict of Interest: no.
Results: Overall 46 patients (49.3%) improved.
Seven patients (9.6%) worsened, of which 1 patient progressed beyond 45[degree sign] and was fused. Referred compliance was assessed during a mean period of 3 years 4 months+/-20 months; the median adherence was 99.1% (range 22.2-109.2%).
Employing intent-to-treat analysis, there were failures in 11 patients (15.1%). At start, these patients had statistically significant low BMI and kyphosis, high thoracic rotation and higher Cobb angles.
Drop-outs showed reduced compliance and years of treatment; their average scoliosis at discontinuation was low: 22.7[degree sign] (range 16-35[degree sign]) at Risser 1.3 +/- 1.
Conclusions: Bracing in patients with AIS who satisfy SRS criteria is effective. Combining bracing with exercise according to SOSORT criteria shows better results than the current literature.
Author: Stefano NegriniSabrina DonzelliMonia LusiniSalvatore MinnellaFabio Zaina
Credits/Source: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2014, 15:263
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Tuesday, 16 September 2014
BAPO Bulletin September 2014
16th-17th October, 2014, Venue- Mercure Goldthorn Hotel, Wolverhampton
Friday 14th November, 2014, Venue- Peacocks Medical, Newcastle
Following the success of Making Every Contact Count (MECC) initiative in supporting people to lead healthier lives in NHS settings, the Royal Society for Public Health is working in partnership with Public Health England to explore the potential for Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) to engage in “healthy conversations” with their clients in order to improve the health and wellbeing of their patients and clients.
requires all HCPC registrants, apart from social workers in England, to
hold appropriate professional indemnity cover as a condition of
registration with the HCPC.
This will not affect the majority of registrants as they will already be
indemnified either through their employer, BAPO Indemnity Insurance, directly
with an insurer or a combination of these. It is, however important that
each HCPC registrant has the appropriate level of cover for their practice.
HCPC have published guidance for registrants, -Professional indemnity and your registration, which is available on their website here:
http://www.hcpc-uk.org/assets/documents/10004776Professionalindemnityandyourregistration.pdf
HCPC have also put together some Frequently Asked Questions which are
available here: http://www.hcpc-uk.org/registrants/indemnity/
The government has announced legislation which introduces fundamental standards for health and social care providers. Subject to parliamentary approval, they will become law in April 2015.
The new measures are being introduced as part of the government’s response to the Francis Inquiry’s recommendations and are intended to help improve the quality of care and transparency of providers by insuring that those responsible for poor care can be held to account.
Monday, 15 September 2014
HCPC CPD audit process webinars
This online event will focus on the Health and Care Professions Council's
audit process and how this links to your HCPC registration and CPD and will
provide detailed information on how to put your CPD profile together
The presentation will last around 40 minutes, followed by the opportunity
to ask representatives from the HCPC questions about the audit (via the
webinar portal).
We will be running two sessions on 25 September 2014:
1pm - 2.30pm
4pm - 5.30pm
If you would like to register for these events, please click here
Further details about the webinar, including the link to join on the
day and how to send in questions, will be sent to those registered 1 week
before the event.
You can find further details on CPD and registration on our webpage -
http://www.hcpc-uk.org/registrants/renew/