Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the issues around continuing professional development (CPD) for physiotherapists working as lone practitioners in amputee rehabilitation in the United Kingdom (UK). Design: Qualitative method using a phenomenological approach via one to one semi-structured interviews and thematic data analysis. Setting and participants: Ten physiotherapists with responsibility for amputee rehabilitation working as lone practitioners in hospitals or specialist centres in the UK. Results: CPD is valued and there is commitment towards the process. Current solutions are identified but there are frustrations around more structured CPD and organizational issues. These include inadequate access to learning opportunities, lack of professional feedback, insufficient time and limited learning skills. Conclusion: There are opportunities for improving CPD through organizational structures but specialist input is recommended to support lone practitioners and managers with the process, e.g., consultant or peripatetic therapists.

The value of gait analysis for research and product development/evaluation in prosthetics is well understood. However, in the rehabilitation of amputees, the application of gait analysis beyond observation in the clinical setting is not routinely practiced, largely due to the cost and time taken to complete a fully instrumented data collection and analysis. To address the time issue, a weekly clinical gait service for primary amputees, based around a reduced data set from video and video vector technology, has been developed. In this clinic primary amputees are seen twice in the Gait Laboratory during their rehabilitation period, with the clinic time for each patient being no more than 15 minutes, which covers both data collection and review.A questionnaire was developed to evaluate the patients' perceptions of the clinic. The questionnaire was completed anonymously by 48 primary amputees over a 6-month period. The results from the questionnaire demonstrate that the clinic was perceived positively by the patients, and suggested areas of future development, e.g. the education of junior staff, and the need to include the patient's physiotherapist in the data collection and review process.

Background/Aims Rehabilitation professionals can be members of international emergency responding medical teams after a natural disaster or following conflict. There is little research that explores the experiences of rehabilitation professionals who participate in these short-term emergency responses. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of rehabilitation professionals, specifically those of occupational therapists and physiotherapists. Objectives included examining personal and professional development opportunities, and how these experiences might inform future responses and the rehabilitation professional role. Methods A phenomenological approach was undertaken. Eight semi-structured interviews were carried out with rehabilitation professionals who had worked as part of short-term response following conflict or sudden-onset disaster. Transcriptions were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Two main themes and subsequent subthemes emerged. Theme 1 was challenges, with subthemes: an emotional journey; have I made a difference; and cultural and contextual awareness. Theme 2 was opportunities, with subthemes: a short-term response; working together; and developing skills and knowledge. Conclusions The experiences of UK-based rehabilitation professionals on short-term rotational responses as part of an emergency specialised rehabilitation team were overall positive. Challenges have implications for developing future pre- and post-response training and support. Further research is recommended to determine the contribution of these responses and to continue to develop understanding of the rehabilitation professional role in a responding specialised rehabilitation team.