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Post by davidsmith on Aug 13, 2008 16:55:14 GMT
Hi all
After many years of being against 2D video and pressure may systems I have recently ordered a gait and motion analysis system. IE pressure mat (Capacitor type) and 2D video analysis with slo-mo, vectoring and synchronising software.
This was mainly a commercial decision since many sports and shoes shops have a dumbed down shoe fitting / sports analysis version of these systems. They proport to tell the customer which product they need. All smoke and mirrors reallly but the public don't know that. So anyway I'm keeping ahead of the competition with my own high tech gait analysis suite.
So what I wanted to ask of you out there who already use 2D video and or pressure may / insole systems is:
1) Did and do you find it enhances your practice in terms of quality of gait analysis, outcomes, patient satisfaction and/or financial turnover and profit.
2) What is it that you can percieve better with these systems than you can just with using traditional methods of clinical gait/motion analysis. How do they change you prescription protocols.
Cheers Dave
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Post by Admin on Aug 14, 2008 7:22:25 GMT
Hi Dave, As you know, I use a Tekscan Mat, but not 2D video. 1) Did and do you find it enhances your practice in terms of quality of gait analysis, outcomes, patient satisfaction and/or financial turnover and profit.
2) What is it that you can percieve better with these systems than you can just with using traditional methods of clinical gait/motion analysis. How do they change you prescription protocols.Resounding yes to your first question. I can see (record, replay and have an objective measurement of how that pt walked on that mat, on that day, at that time) early heel-lift (if present), add/abduction angles, arch height, plantar pressures and lack of hallux plantar pressure at toe-off (again, if present). Second question - I don't believe it alters my prescription, but it gives me confdence in what I prescribe is going to do the job it was prescribed for. I did a little work with the Vicon system a few years ago (five cameras/strobe//Kistler force-plate). This system produces a digitized matchstick-man image and generates much data. Far too complicated, and IMO has no way of getting around the problems of variability of walk (targetting), nervousness at being in a gait-lab (the pt, not the clinician ), and time of day the data is collected (althou this is not so important with Vicon, as it can take 3 hours to collect data on one subject). For me data from the Matscan is as useful clinically. DTT will be along in a bit with some comments I expect ;D Cheers,
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Post by dtt on Aug 14, 2008 19:41:12 GMT
Ok I'm here I use the orthotic group gait scan system Yes to all you said Davidh and also for me one of the greatest benefits is the patient education factor. It is second to none to explain and give the patient the scans and watch them work out for themselves the problems they have in their feet. They are immediately on your side and then will be happy to work with you to cure them as they understand what you are doing for them. The one problem with this system is you are tied to one lab. The orthotics they produce are a full range and are of good quality and have an excellent techinical service for any special Rx I saw a demonstration of the " Dartfish " video system which works in conjunction with Gait Scan and other pressure plate systems and was very very impressed. Cost vs time left in the profession ( old ) for me was prohibitive Good luck with whatever system you settle on Smiffy they really are "worth their weight in gold" IMHO Be Lucky D
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Post by lawrencebevan on Aug 15, 2008 8:45:55 GMT
I have an in-shoe pressure system (the one with the disposable insoles)
It is very good for pt education and very definately is a wonderful sales system. It "helps" prescriptions in the sense that it confirms suspicions BUT rarely brings any real surprise so invariably the Rx is the same. BUT importantly the pt has bought in big time and so complies and perhaps outcomes are better as a result.
They idea of some lecturers or company consultants that this system enables you to write very finely tuned Rx's is largely a myth. Multiple trials of test devices takes waaaaay too long. Good for diabetics in the NHS, no good for musculo-skeletal pts elsewhere. And having done this approach I find that it rarely delivers in terms of the bottom line of symptom relief!
So: 1 Great for pt education - it does lead to referrals 2 Confirms suspicions 3 Rarely changes Rx's unless you are actually a bit clueless anyway 4 Wish I had got a mat system rather than in-shoe as Id have saved a ton and use it far more as its quicker!
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paulm
Junior Member
Posts: 61
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Post by paulm on Aug 15, 2008 11:42:06 GMT
"The one problem with this system is you are tied to one lab"
Hi Derek that was said to me when i purchased the Bergmann scanner, but wot the hell as long as you get good devices & service imo
regards Paul
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Post by dtt on Aug 15, 2008 15:23:42 GMT
Hi Paul I agree m8 and with a lot of what Lawrence has said. I think as an adjunct to diagnosis and to get the patient on your side they are great Cheers D
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Post by Admin on Aug 16, 2008 6:02:42 GMT
I have an in-shoe pressure system (the one with the disposable insoles) It is very good for pt education and very definately is a wonderful sales system. It "helps" prescriptions in the sense that it confirms suspicions BUT rarely brings any real surprise so invariably the Rx is the same. BUT importantly the pt has bought in big time and so complies and perhaps outcomes are better as a result. They idea of some lecturers or company consultants that this system enables you to write very finely tuned Rx's is largely a myth. Multiple trials of test devices takes waaaaay too long. Good for diabetics in the NHS, no good for musculo-skeletal pts elsewhere. And having done this approach I find that it rarely delivers in terms of the bottom line of symptom relief! So: 1 Great for pt education - it does lead to referrals 2 Confirms suspicions 3 Rarely changes Rx's unless you are actually a bit clueless anyway 4 Wish I had got a mat system rather than in-shoe as Id have saved a ton and use it far more as its quicker! Hi Laurence, Good point about compliance. The fact that people say these systems do more than they are actually capable of just muddies up the water for the rest of us. Having looked at both systems I can confirm that the mat (IMO) is way better. Cheers,
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Post by lawrencebevan on Aug 16, 2008 8:40:29 GMT
Having looked at both systems I can confirm that the mat (IMO) is way better. Yep, had a quote to get a mat addition to my system now!
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Post by dtt on Aug 17, 2008 14:34:46 GMT
Ahh there is one more benefit for the patient I overlooked I always tell them after explaining their scans to the to take them home and look at them when they have time and work it all out for themselves. When they have done that they come in very useful for getting rid of dinner guests that wont take a hint with yawning. Try, Oh would you like to see the scans of my feet I can explain them as well !! Goodnight ;D Cheers D
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