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Snowdon, N., McLean, S., Piercy, H., Brodie, M.A. and Wheat, J. 
ORCID: 0000-0002-1107-6452,
2023.
Orthotic shorts for improving gait and walking in multiple sclerosis: a feasibility study.
Disability and Rehabilitation, 45 (18), pp. 3000-3011.
ISSN 0963-8288
Abstract
Purpose: To explore the acceptability and potential efficacy of orthotic shorts in people with multiple sclerosis.
Materials and methods: This mixed-methods, cross-over study utilised qualitative data to investigate acceptability, including perceived effectiveness. Quantitative data included wear times, self-selected walking speed, spatiotemporal gait parameters, and participant-perceived walking ability. Fifteen participants were assessed with and without two pairs of custom-made shorts: one designed as an orthotic and a second looser pair. Each were worn at home for two weeks. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at the first and final appointments. Quantitative data were analysed using Cohen’s d; qualitative analysis used a thematic framework. A triangulation protocol integrated qualitative and quantitative data.
Results: Orthotic shorts were acceptable to most users who described improved control, stability, and function. Where shorts were less acceptable, this was due to restriction of hip flexion or appearance. Effect sizes were in the moderate category for participant-perceived walking ability and for those spatiotemporal gait parameters that reflect mediolateral stability. Small effect sizes were seen for walking speed and related spatiotemporal parameters, such as step length.
Conclusion: Orthotic shorts are acceptable and potentially efficacious for improving walking, stability, and function in people with multiple sclerosis. Further research and design development are warranted.
Implications for rehabilitation:
• Orthotic shorts are a type of fabric orthosis that have not been previously researched but might assist pelvic stability.
• Orthotic shorts appear to be acceptable to those people with multiple sclerosis who perceive themselves to be unstable around the trunk and hips.
• Orthotic shorts might improve gait stability and self-perceived walking ability.
| Item Type: | Journal article | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Publication Title: | Disability and Rehabilitation | ||||||
| Creators: | Snowdon, N., McLean, S., Piercy, H., Brodie, M.A. and Wheat, J. | ||||||
| Publisher: | Informa UK Limited | ||||||
| Date: | 2023 | ||||||
| Volume: | 45 | ||||||
| Number: | 18 | ||||||
| ISSN: | 0963-8288 | ||||||
| Identifiers: |
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| Rights: | This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way. | ||||||
| Divisions: | Schools > School of Science and Technology | ||||||
| Record created by: | Jeremy Silvester | ||||||
| Date Added: | 24 Apr 2024 09:17 | ||||||
| Last Modified: | 24 Apr 2024 09:17 | ||||||
| URI: | https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/51307 |
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