Outcome and follow up
Patient measurements were reassessed at 8 and 16 weeks,
post-intervention (Tables I and II) . Both subjective and
objective outcome measurements showed positive improvements with the
iHot-33 score increasing by 31 points. The minimal clinically important
difference (MCID) is 6 points [28]. The patient felt in less pain
and reported the DMO® made her feel more co-ordinated and stable. This
resulted in her being able to engage in her physiotherapy exercises to
prepare for hip surgery. Increases in muscle strength were demonstrated
by HHD tests with her hip abductors, hip adductors, hip internal and hip
external rotators. Reduction in her symptoms of light-headedness,
dizziness and palpitations were notable and promising in respect of
improvements to her safety and prevention of falls. Figure Iare photographs showing the patient without the orthoses and their sway
back posture and a comparative photograph to show her posture changes
whilst wearing the orthoses. Her posture in standing whilst wearing the
orthotics, was significantly more vertically aligned. These improvements
also carried over into her walking posture; and most importantly,
resulted in decreased pain and heightened body awareness.