Paediatric Treatment

Paediatric Conditions Treated at LOC

The London Orthotic Consultancy (LOC) has unrivalled expertise in treating children. In 2015, we started working with Elaine Owen, a world-renowned physiotherapist who has developed concepts adopted across the world as the gold standard in lower limb orthotic management of children with neurological conditions. Together we have built what we call the OSKAR clinic. We believe this is a unique example of orthotics being used to their absolute potential and helping children and their parents achieve the goals they set.

We work with a number of London hospitals including The Portland which is the UK’s largest private hospital for women and children. We provided orthotics for their first Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) patient in 2016 and now provide in patient assessments as requested by the clinical team there. 

At LOC, we often work with children who present with rare, complex conditions and are able to produce effective treatments that aid rehabilitation and reduce pain due to the breadth and depth of our clinician’s expertise. Our bespoke orthoses are designed to enhance function and mobility, provide structural support and reduce the effects of contractures and deformities as children grow.

We understand that your children develop their motor patterns and gait characteristics from an early age. Correctly prescribed and well-designed orthoses can play a vital role in aiding this development into later life. We aim to design orthoses and provide adjustments where possible to maximise their durability as your child grows and develops.

CONDITIONS TREATED

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the term used to describe a group of conditions that affect the movement of muscles and the posture of the body. The term comes from the area of the brain affected. A large range of bespoke orthotics can enhance function, mobility and reduce pain in cerebral palsy patients.

SDR

LOC has developed a reputation in the selective dorsal rhizotomy community for its treatment and management of cerebral palsy patients who have undergone this ground-breaking SDR surgery. Tuned Ankle Foot Orthotics are especially good and we also use DAFOs or Dorsiflexion Assist SMOs to improve alignment and gait.

Pes Planovalgus (flat feet)

Pes planus is the loss of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot. Infants typically have a minimal arch, however by the age of 10, children should have developed an anatomical arch structure. If appropriate, bespoke foot orthotics may be prescribed to ease pain and to ensure that other symptoms do not develop.

Hypermobility

Hypermobility is the term used to describe the ability to move joints beyond the normal range of motion, a person with this condition is often referred to as being double jointed. It is common in children and adolescents. Bespoke foot orthotics are the recommended treatment option for the majority of patients with hypermobility.

Sever's Disease

Sever's Disease is a musculoskeletal condition that affects children & adolescents as they grow. Also called calcaneal apophysitis, it is a painful inflammation of the growth plate or epiphyseal plate, in the heel bone. Foot orthotics can help all foot types with a predisposition to Sever’s.

Spina Bifida

Spina bifida is a birth defect of the neural tube - this later develops to form the spine & nervous system. If it doesn’t form correctly, damage to the spinal cord occurs, causing neurological dysfunctions. Typically in spina bifida, orthotic intervention would be either ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) or knee ankle foot orthoses (KAFOs).

Transverse Myelitis

Transverse myelitis is a rare neurological disorder, with around 300 new cases recorded in the UK every year. Treatment can involve activating the muscles through Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES), while foot drop can be treated with bespoke Ankle Foot Orthoses (AFO).

Paediatric Brain Injury

Brain injury occurs often after a traumatic event that disrupts the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain. At LOC, we offer a range of orthotic treatments for children with this condition such as bespoke AFOs, carried out in conjunction with a gait lab assessment in our gait laboratory.

Pars Fracture (Spondylolysis)

Pars fracture, or spondylolysis, is a spinal condition characterised by a stress fracture in the pars interarticularis, a small bridge of bone in the vertebral arch. Common in adolescents and athletes, it can cause lower back pain and can be managed through rest, bracing, and physical therapy.

SPECIALITIES

Bespoke Orthotics

LOC is committed to providing its patients with the most up-to-date orthoses available; we are always assessing new and innovative products like carbon fibre & neuro swing technology for our bespoke orthotics, braces and foot orthotics

We have our own in-house gait lab for analysis and fine tuning of our AFOs.

 

Neuro Swing AFO

The Neuro Swing AFO has a unilateral ankle joint that is designed to be held within a carbon fibre construction. The joint has two springs, posterior and anterior. The springs can be altered in three ways. Resistance in the springs can be reduced or increased and range of movement can be altered as can the alignment of the ankle. The Neuro Swing system from Fior & Gentz enables us to return the patient’s gait pattern to one that is as near normal as possible.

Carbon Fibre

The advent of carbon fibre has allowed the creation of a new range of specialised orthoses.

These are not only lighter and less bulky, but also more comfortable and much stronger than traditional, plastic types.

Weight reduction has an immediate positive clinical impact, particularly for patients with polio or post-polio syndrome.

BESPOKE ORTHOSES

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