Welcome to the Podiatry Arena forums

You are currently viewing our podiatry forum as a guest which gives you limited access to view all podiatry discussions and access our other features. By joining our free global community of Podiatrists and other interested foot health care professionals you will have access to post podiatry topics (answer and ask questions), communicate privately with other members, upload content, view attachments, receive a weekly email update of new discussions, access other special features. Registered users do not get displayed the advertisements in posted messages. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our global Podiatry community today!

  1. Have you considered the Clinical Biomechanics Boot Camp Online, for taking it to the next level? See here for more.
    Dismiss Notice
Dismiss Notice
Have you considered the Clinical Biomechanics Boot Camp Online, for taking it to the next level? See here for more.
Dismiss Notice
Have you liked us on Facebook to get our updates? Please do. Click here for our Facebook page.
Dismiss Notice
Do you get the weekly newsletter that Podiatry Arena sends out to update everybody? If not, click here to organise this.

Stepahead orthotics??

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by cperrin, Apr 3, 2008.

  1. cperrin

    cperrin Active Member


    Members do not see these Ads. Sign Up.
    Has anyone used any of these orthoses before??

    http://www.stepaheadorthosis.co.uk/

    have just been given the link by a friend and am interested in their reputation. Most likely only to be used by UK pods.

    Chris 'studnet' Perrin
     
  2. I think Phil Wells works for them so I'm sure he'll chip in. I'm intrigued though, Chris you seem to be asking: "are these any good?". They are only as good as the practitioner prescribing them. What is it you are trying to find out about the different orthoses manufacturers?
     
  3. davidh

    davidh Podiatry Arena Veteran

    Clue:
    "We recognise that clinical accuracy is the key to effective orthotic management, and with our full in-house design facility together with an extensive knowledge of manufacturing, we are able to offer a custom-made orthotic service to assist practitioners in meeting their clients individual needs."

    Looks like the lab are promising to do at least some of the work of the practitioner:rolleyes:.
     
  4. Would like to see the evidence for the first statement. ;)

    Reading between the lines, I don't think they are going to perform your clinical exam, make your diagnosis, take your cast/ scan for you, fill in your prescription form for you. I would like to think that the majority of labs do their best to help practitioners. I only manufacture for a few "selected people", even so I often spend time on the phone saying things like- "are you sure that's what you really want, tell me about the patient" etc. Ultimately, you do what the practitioner wants. But, a number of one-liners still spring to mind: "Garbage in, garbage out"; "You can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear"; "Tick box for labs discretion" ;)
     
  5. cperrin

    cperrin Active Member

    At our clinic, the only orthotics available are the 1st phase/algeos orthotics. Due to this, at this stage of my learning I am usually unable to get hands on work with other orthoses e.g. their ease to use, how the patients feel about them etc also due to this i still sometimes find it hard to clarify between what is the companies 'jargon' and what is infact a key element to their device. I think like with anything, word of mouth can sometimes be the best selling tool, and although not in a position to buy, the lack of availablity in using other devices means I rely on this and the experience of others to know who are seen as good:D and who are seen as bad:mad:

    Alas im still just a small mind in the world of podiatry

    chris
     
  6. Phil Wells

    Phil Wells Active Member

    Chris

    I might as well jump in as I am responsible for running the Stepahead orthosis department of Salts Techstep.
    Stepahead is fairly new to Salts and has only been running properly for 2 years. We make 99% of our orthoses using CAD/CAM techniques and use a system that is NOT designed for making orthoses and consequently gives very bespoke designs and insoles. (Promotion over)

    Please don't mistake marketing speak for a genuine wish to design orthoses correctly 1st time - this saves us and you money and we therefore put a lot of emphasis on this.

    My personal experience has been that if the practitioner works with us and allows us to help with non prescriptive issues such as fitting to shoes, material choice (Working in conjunction with the prescriptive side of the device) etc, we are capable of making bloody good orthoses.


    Hope this helps.

    Cheers

    Phil
     
  7. Playing Devil's advocate, at this stage of your learning why do you want to get hands on work with other orthoses? Don't you think the course is designed to give you a balanced overview of that which is required to make you fit for purpose at the end of three years and that by the end of it you will have a wider understanding of foot orthoses? Are you in danger of trying to run before you can walk?;)

    I suspect if you choose to visit a range of Trusts as part of your placement education during the 3 year course, rather than going to the same Trust every time, you will see more than one brand of preform being used and different custom devices from various suppliers. Conference trade exhibitions are good to have a touch and feel. But you need the knowledge and understanding in the first place to make informed decisions about orthosis selection- so understand your biomechanics first! If you've got plenty of money to waste drinking on North Hill or Mutley Plane, why not just buy lots of different foot orthoses in your size and try them out instead? What year of your studies are you in?

    There is no single preform that is better than another for all patients, just like there is no single custom prescription suitable for all pathology (although the meat pie comes close- but that's another story ;)) Experience will enable you to cut through the jargon and select the "best" option for the patient based upon a holistic assessment of them. Understanding the mechanics of foot orthoses and the biomechanics of the foot and lower-limb will better equip you to make the right choices. Even then, you won't get it right all the time. Twenty years of this now and I'm still amazed at how the biological interacts with the physical. :cool

    Keep asking questions Chris and keep up your enthusiasm.

    Here's the caveat though:
    I don't know anything about you and certainly don't want to knock down your enthusiasm, which is a credit to you. BUT, please don't come out of podiatry school at the end of three years thinking you're a "biomechanics specialist"- unless you have a background in bio-engineering or you are double qualified, it is highly unlikely that you will be. Don't mean to be mean, but I've seen it hundreds and hundreds of times. Takes more than anything you can read in a book or anything anyone can tell you- you got to get that hands on experience and the 1000 hours of mixed podiatry practice you will receive at University isn't enough to make you a specialist in anything. Nor is it designed to. I can speak with a certain amount of confidence on this issue since I designed the current BSc Podiatry course at the University of Plymouth, where I believe you are studying.
     
  8. cperrin

    cperrin Active Member

    How did you find out about this!!!

    I appreciate all comments i receive on here, especially as i know that you did indeed set out the course i am on.

    It is not my intention to appear like i am coming out of uni as a biomech specialist (Although that is more than a year off atm) but i do find arenas such as this very valuable esp during holiday times where access to libraries etc is limited. Also with algeos appearing very popular in the NHS i have yet to go to a trust where they are not used (Again only in my 2nd year so there is still time).

    I have a great biomech team at Plymouth but hearing the opinions of other people who are practicing and have the insight which i do not as of yet mean that my questions (especially on orthotics) atm have be based on a 'lower level', nor will this stop me from prob asking stupid questions in the future;), however i do think it is better to ask the question and get shot down than not ask it atall!
     
  9. Live in Plymouth, know how students tick and still inhabit Cuba on occasions.


    How many trusts have you been to?

    Do you think this might have something to do with the relative cost 1st phase compared to other OTC's or do you think 1st phase offer a biomechanical advantage over comparative devices?

    Good, no such thing as a low level or stupid question.
     
  10. cperrin

    cperrin Active Member

    Due to the hockey club i am in cuba for more than i wish:D

    Atm I have been to two different trusts, getting ready for my third now. I would say the use of 1st phase is a cost one, but i would say from my experience (ha check me out!) that they are easy to modify, and are comfortable for the patient, and have a good basis as a temporary insole. The rate we go through them though cost element has to be a factor.
     
  11. If you see me in there come and say hello, I'll either be happy to chat to you about foot orthoses, or vomit on you. All depends on the time of night and what delights we've been drinking in my rugby club- Tamar Saracens.

    I think you might be right.
     
  12. cperrin

    cperrin Active Member

    Do you know Alex Israel?? not sure which team he plays for just know it is Tamar Saracens. Chris Duffin plays/ or use to play i think that should be for them aswell i think
     
  13. Yeah know 'em will see Israel tonight, Duffin will be down for the weekend, but this is real off-topic stuff now so lets leave the chitter chat.

    cheers.
     
Loading...

Share This Page