Orthotic Education and Training Trust

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The OETT Elaine Figgins Student Prize

The Orthotic Education Training Trust annual student of the year award given to the best Strathclyde University Orthotic student has been renamed as a fitting tribute in honor of our late Trustee Elaine Figgins who sadly passed away in June 2020.

Elaine’s name was synonymous with clinical excellence from her UK and World Wide involvement in top level PO education and “The OETT Elaine Figgins student prize” will be awarded on the recommendation of the university faculty.

The first recipient of this prestige award for 2020 is Andrew Struthers who was awarded remotely during the COVID 19 Pandemic but we hope to meet face to face at a later date.

Andrew Struthers has sent some words:

 

“Winning the Orthotic Education and Training Trust (OETT) prize is an incredibly proud moment for myself, and for my family. I had a difficult private life during my time at University with the passing of a parent and the course provided me with a sense of normality that was otherwise lacking. To win the prize shows that the work I put in and help I was provided from the lecturers was not in vain. I couldn’t be happier with the news and can’t wait to continue learning and developing as an Orthotist in my future career. I’d like to thank the educational staff at the centre, especially Chris Cox for his guidance and mentorship and incredible teaching ability, the staff at GGC NHS orthotics team who were fantastic on my placement and provided a practical space for me to consolidate what I had learned at University and expand upon that knowledge, and my peers especially Morgan McIntosh, Sarah Price and Alistair Spearing who revised with me and motivated me during the lead up to the orthotics exam”.

Well done Andrew!

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Obituary – Elaine Figgins

In June 2020 we sadly lost a great friend and trustee who passed away peacefully in her sleep from secondary metastatic cancer.

Elaine had undertaken a lengthy course of treatment for many years and it was gratifying to hear that the cancer had not taken her before she was ready to go and that she had lived her life to the full until she chose when the time was right for her to leave her cherished family.

Her glittering career has been recorded in the BAPOConnect publication, issue 2, May 2020 in a in-depth interview by Sandy Sexton to mark her retirement from PO and in an obituary on ISPO’s ispoint.org news website.

The wealth of knowledge Elaine brought to the OETT table was immense not only from the UK scene but world wide from notable events like the WHO standards group for PO to name but one.

Elaine’s wisdom and insight was given unselfishly for many, many years and this was greatly appreciated and will be sadly missed but loss of her friendship and kindness which was given unconditionally will be a greater loss.

Duncan Ferguson

Chair to the trustees

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OETT Student Prize

Beverley Moraes’ keen interest in anatomy and biomechanics and her strong desire to help people led her to study Prosthetics and Orthotics, which appealed to her as the perfect blend of creativity, engineering and medicine. Her decision to study prosthetics and orthotics was initially met with scepticism from high school teachers and peers, who advised her to pursue other fields of study for which she was perceived to be more suited. Rather than dissuading her, this fuelled her determination to put in 110% from day one. Beverley says she chose the University of Strathclyde because of its international reputation and ISPO category 1 accreditation, allowing graduates the opportunity to work anywhere in the world.

Beverley passed all her university examinations at the first attempt, passing every year of her degree “with distinction”, meaning that her grade average for each year was more than 70%. She completed her orthotics clinical placement at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge, and achieved the highest mark in the final orthotics clinical examination in her class, thereby qualifying for the OETT prize for the best performance in Orthotics. She graduated in June 2019 with First Class Honours in Prosthetics and Orthotics. Beverley is excited to be starting her first job, working in Orthotics at the Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital. She is looking forward to continuing to learn and grow as a clinician and to be able to use her knowledge and skills to help as many people as she can. She feels that her university experience has been challenging but very rewarding and insightful. It has helped her to recognise her true potential and has demonstrated the importance of diligence, dedication and determination in the path to success. Beverley is extremely grateful to the OETT for the award of the generous prize, which provides her with great encouragement as she enters her orthotics career.

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SOSORT write up for OETT

In April this year, I was fortunate enough to travel to San Francisco for the 15th annual SOSORT (Society on Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment) conference through support from the OETT. I have worked as an orthotist for the past 5 years and throughout my career, as well as during training, I have been lucky to garner significant and varied experience in an area I am passionate about: idiopathic scoliosis bracing.

Idiopathic scoliosis has been treated with external bracing for centuries, using principles that are familiar to this day, such as 3-point-pressure, derotation and distraction. Thankfully, methods of treatment and brace design have become more sophisticated during this time. This has happened because of dedicated practitioners and researchers gathering clinical data over months, years and sometimes decades in order to augment global knowledge of the aetiology of idiopathic scoliosis (IS) and therefore develop protocols for bracing (as well as other conservative treatment and surgery) in order to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients. There is plenty of diversity in clinical evidence and practice however. This can make things a little confusing when trying to decide which is the best treatment for our patients.

This is what led me to the conference in San Francisco. SOSORT have developed globally recognised bracing guidelines which are reviewed every year. The conference has been held annually all over the world since 2004 and is an opportunity for delegates to present papers on the research they have undertaken, as well as educational lectures. The committee boasts names familiar to anyone who has researched IS and/or IS bracing – Weinstein, Negrini, Zaina. Et al.

The conference this year took place at the Parc 55 Hilton hotel, in the middle of Embarcadero, the bustling financial district of the city. Day 1 was a pre-conference education day to kick off proceedings; the next 3 days the conference itself. The main event room was accessed through a concourse area populated with posters of various studies submitted by SOSORT members. Once inside the conference room one could easily find a seat amongst the rows of desks and chairs adorned with information packs, paper and pens. The room was fronted with 2 projector screens, a podium for the speakers and seating for the moderators and presenters.

The first day was no gentle introduction, as from 8am to 5.30pm were rigorously timetabled lectures on the natural history of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), a background on normal 3D vertebral growth and the patho-biomechanics of growth and development in IS to name but a few. Meticulously scheduled coffee and lunch breaks allowed the participants to review the posters and mingle, networking with professionals from all over the globe. The main aim of the pre-conference day was to focus on growth and development in scoliosis and the biomechanical, physiological and psychological intricacies thereof. The lectures on this first day were delivered mainly by members of the committee. Following each lecture was a question and answer session and audience members  were able to express ideas and discuss the lectures with each presenter.

The first day of the conference started with a welcome from the local host (an orthotist practising in the area, a Salford alumnus in fact) and then further presentations, only this time of clinical and technical research papers. Over 30 papers were presented by a mix of doctors, orthotists and physiotherapists on the first day alone. Subjects included psychological complexities associated with bracing, development of an AIS patient decision aid, quality of life questionnaires, physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercises (PSSE), brace design analysis for upper thoracic curves, biomechanical spinal simulation/models for curve and correction prediction and many more. Again there was opportunity to question and discuss the topics presented. In the midst of the papers being presented was a lecture on PSSE by Dr Manuel Rigo (of Rigo-Cheneau fame!) a lecture by Dr Stuart Weinstein (renowned researcher and practitioner in the field of IS) and further opportunity to review the posters. Alongside these posters were 5-6 stalls set up and manned by various commercial sponsors of the event. These included brace suppliers such as Boston and Aspen, and more technical companies such as EOS Imaging and ScolioScan. This allowed introduction to new or alternative methods of curve detection and analysis, as well as a range of brace types.

The second conference day continued with the presentation of papers interspersed with discussion, the theme of the papers covering lung function, long term bracing results, de novo scoliosis and surface topography. In addition there was an address by the SOSORT president, a choice of two symposia over lunch and a guest lecture by Dr Scott Haldeman on the Global Spine Care Initiative, a charity providing management of spinal disorders in developing countries.

The last day (which was just a morning session) started with a guest lecture from Rachel Mulvaney, VP of Curvy Girls Scoliosis Foundation, a US support group. Papers presented on this day were relating to bracing and treatment adherence and further analyses of PSSE effectiveness.

The conference was closed with the announcement of award winners for papers and posters.

Overall the three and a half days were jam-packed and very intensely timetabled. The information presented in the papers was from evidence gathered in the last few years, or if over a long time, then the evidence was analysed and conclusions drawn in the last year ensuring the data was up to date. I have been able to take comfort in the papers reinforcing the evidence behind rigid bracing, ensuring I am committing fully to evidence-based practice. Auxiliary areas such as long-term effects of scoliosis after bracing, bone development, aerobic capacity and pulmonary function will augment the breadth and depth of my knowledge in the subject and help me hone my skills in assessment and individual case management.

On the whole, attending SOSORT was a very worthwhile endeavour from which I learned a great deal. This will be implemented in my own practice and the information has been presented to and disseminated amongst my colleagues. It is experiences like this which not only expose one to new clinical data and innovation, but to different cultures, processes and practitioners who all have a common goal: to improve clinical outcomes and the patient experience.

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Online Applications

We are happy to announce that we have developed a new online application site as part of our website update.  We will be making the new online application site live in late July early August 2019 and will be accessible from https://my.oett.org.uk.  You will be able to create an account and create new applications, all the applications that you create using the online application process will be available to you when you log in including any feedback you may provide.

To create an account you will need an activation code, this is the current one for new users 698A137003

Once you have created an account you can log in from the homepage.

You will be taken to your dashboard, to create your first application simply click the New Application button

 

Your application will appear on the dashboard and you can then use the “Actions” button to manage it

 

  • View Application – allows you to view the application in a printable format
  • Edit Application –  allows you to edit the contents of your application
  • Application Attachments – allows you to add attachments to support your application or provide evidence such as receipts
  • Submit For Review – allows you to submit your application for approval
  • Delete Application – allows you to delete your application!!

 

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Hypermobility / Ehlers Danlos Syndrome In Adults and Children – Clinical Assessment and Management 07/19

Date course was held
2/7/19

Venue
London Road Community Hospital, Derby

Speaker / Presenter(s)
NCORE, Alison Middleditch

Key learning points

  • MDT course. In attendance physios, orthotics and OT.
  • Diagnostic Criteria of HSD and EDS
  • Clinical Presentation
  • Impact on function
  • Assessment
  • Practical Framework for Management

Criticisms
Could have done with more papers to back up practical session/discussion

Application of new knowledge to current and future working practice

Sharing knowledge within Orthotics and MDTs I work within. Increased confidence in discussion of treatment plan with EDS aptients.

Feedback

The course was organised by NCORE. This group have been organising courses for 20 years now for MDTs. Looking on their website the list of courses available are wide spread and varied covering multiple professional disciplines, different skill sets or focussing on different conditions.

This course was attended by approximately 20 people including physios, OTs myself (Orthotist) and a physio from Canada.

Alison is a physio working in NHS and private physiotherapy. Her initial interest in HSD came from working with ballerinas and she has been working with EDS literature since.

The initial part of the course looked into different subsection, diagnoses and classifications of hypermobility disorders, including hypermobility spectrum disorder, hypermobility EDS, hereditory connective tissue disorders. Looking at the varying presentations and systemic impact.

The clinical skills workshop section covered physical assessment of different joints and strengthening programs which can be given in clinic by all in attendance.

Finally a discussion occurred across the different professions highlighting areas of concern and how to work across the teams for these patient groups.

Would recommend this course to anyone in Orthotics or other professional disciplines.