ProtoKinetics For Physical Therapists
ProtoKinetics For Physical Therapists
Gait analysis is one of the most critical tools for physical therapists. The data collected by the ProtoKinetics PKMAS gait analysis software and Zeno Walkway gait analysis system can be used to track the efficacy of clinical decisions for rehabilitation, surgery, adaptive devices, sports medicine, assessing the progression of physical therapy, the improvement or regression of conditions and diseases, and many more applications.
Physical therapists are experts in analyzing human movement, yet most have been trained only in observational gait analysis (OGA), which is subject to the therapist’s experience and individual bias. Unfortunately, using observation alone tends to focus on gross deviations in the patient’s gait and frequently misses more subtle deviations, resulting in potentially incomplete analysis.
QGA vs observational analysis
Quantitative Gait Analysis (QGA), like that provided by the ProtoKinetics PKMAS gait analysis software and the Zeno Walkway gait analysis system adds to the physical therapist’s tools with gait data such as:
- temporal and spatial parameters
- coefficient of variation
- footfall
- relative pressure
- step and stride
- gait phase
- gait cycle
- velocity
- distance
- coordinates
- Center of Pressure (COP)
- static measurements such as quiet standing
- and more.
This data can be used to create standards and baselines against which the patient’s progress can be compared, independent of or as an adjunct to the physical therapist’s observations.
ProtoKinetics gait analysis software for physical therapists is also useful in providing data to track function in post-orthopaedic surgery situations. This is especially useful if pre-surgical baseline gait data was gathered. Physical therapists can also collect baseline data to compare progress or regression over time in patients with stroke, Parkinson’s disease, concussion, Alzheimer’s Disease, MS, spinal injuries, amputations, and many more progressive conditions and diseases
Maximize physical therapy lab efficiency
PKMAS and Zeno Walkway offer an opportunity for physical therapy labs to maximize efficiency, as lab staff can be trained in data collection and physical therapists can interpret the gait parameters. This lets the therapist accurately observe how gait parameters change over time to clinical interventions.
As healthcare quickly moves towards outcomes which require quantitative analysis, shorter hospital stays and increased function, measuring gait will become more useful in tracking patient progress, functional loss or disability. Comparing data from gait analysis made before and during intervention can guide protocols and show when the effect of the intervention has plateaued.
Quantitative Gait Analysis provides information about the impact of impairments on functional movement, offering physical therapists important additional measures when assessing patients at intake or measuring progress in walking.
ProtoKinetics PKMAS software and Zeno Walkway for physical therapy provide the data to:
- Quantify functional gait outcomes
- Test intervention efficacy
- Track and report recovery and disease progression longitudinally
- Compare gait conditions to determine optimal performance with assistive devices, such as walker vs. cane or SMO vs. AFO (braces)
- Show patients quantitative data to assist with patient compliance
- Send quantitative clinical data to insurance carriers to speed reimbursement