Question: Simple or inexpensive methods for clinical studies – Know any?

Question: Simple or inexpensive methods for clinical studies – Know any?

Garrett Hurley

8/11/2011

Question: Simple or inexpensive methods for clinical studies – Know any?

With looming evidenced based medical reimbursement, clinical studies that
support what we do in O and P have become increasingly important. However, most
of us working in the field do not have a lot of time or funding to put into
research.

My resident and I have become interested in learning about and ways to perform
simple or inexpensive methods for clinical studies. Do you have any experience
with this, do you know any resources?
More specifically, we will be presenting about amputee running gait in Vegas.
We have utilized two different methods to study running gait but we recognize
the limitations of these methods. We can visually see better gait with certain
changes but the video analysis that we used from SFSU does not show it and
neither does GPS determined speed and cadence. It may be that running gait
requires more detailed and more expensive methods than what is generally
required. However, during our Vegas presentation I would like discuss what I
have written above about easy ways to do studies in an effort to help others who
may want to perform research but don’t know what method, don’t have a lot of
time, and/or don’t have much funding.
So…
Do you know any video analysis software that you would recommend?
Resources on this? Simple and affordable is good.
Do you have any ideas, comments, or suggestions regarding this
Topic?
Do you have any support to show that a given method is more accurate
or valid than others?

Here are some other ideas we have had:
Self-selected speed and a Stop watch at a set distance.
Change only the variable being tested. We are not sure of the
validity in this method.
Gps units.
Not sure of the best ones or how valid.
Heart rate monitors. VO2 max monitors.
Not sure of the best ones or how valid.
Shoot video then outsource analysis software.
Not sure if this is possible, just a thought for not needing to buy
expensive software.
gaitrite matt.
Too expensive, other force plate options?
treadmill with force plates
Too expensive, other force plate options?
Respectfully,

Garrett Hurley, Certified Prosthetist and Orthotist
Manager of Prosthetics
S F Prosthetic-Orthotic Service
330 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, CA 94117-2209
Office (415) 861-4146
Cell (415) 568-7730

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