Implementation of 2D Running Gait Analysis in Orthopedic Physical Therapy Clinics.
Tiffany Barrett, Kai-Yu Ho, Justin Rasavage and 3 others
PMID 37425116WHAT IT FOUND
Most therapists found the free smartphone running analysis easy and useful for patient education, but half stopped using it within six months because caseload and clinic setup got in the way.
Key findings
01Six of the twelve therapists who completed the study continued using the protocol at maintenance follow-up.
02Therapists rated the checklist useful for analyzing gait patterns, but routine use and treatment decision usefulness were neutral.
03Five therapists cited inadequate case load, one cited time restraints, and one cited clinic setup as reasons for stopping.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
Only twelve therapists from ten clinics in the Las Vegas area participated, so the experience may not apply elsewhere. Fifteen clinics did not respond to the baseline survey, so reach and adoption may not represent all contacted clinics. Patient outcomes were not assessed, so the paper cannot show whether the analysis improved patient outcomes. Therapists self-reported use and perceptions, and many had high caseloads and time constraints. Six of twelve therapists did not continue the protocol at maintenance.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that 2D running gait analysis improves patient outcomes or should be routine. The study measured therapists' perceptions and protocol use, and patient outcomes were not assessed.