Orthotics (Splints) fit onto the foot, ankle and leg and are used to offer extra support. They are designed to aid foot and knee stability, ankle placement, walking efficiency and bone development. Orthotics could help your child with cerebral palsy to stand and or walk better.

To find out if splints could help your child your child will need to see a paediatric (children’s) physiotherapist who has expertise in the field of orthotic management. The physiotherapist will carry out an in depth assessment. If they feel your child will benefit from having splints they will then refer your child to an orthotist.

It is best practice for your child’s physiotherapist and the orthotist to assess your child together to decide on the following:

• The type of splints and footwear design that are required
• The functional purpose of the splints
• How to measure the success of the splints
• Specific physiotherapy exercises / activities to work on following supply of the splint

Gait (walking) Analysis:

• The physiotherapist and / or orthotist may want to video your child walking because this will help them analyses your child’s walking pattern.
• This will help the orthotist and physiotherapist to decide which type of splint is will work best for your child.
• They will always ask for your consent to do this and will often video your child as they walk from the front and the sides.
• At Wanderlust Therapy for Kids we use a video gait app to do this called Dratfish.

How can we help?

For a full assessment to see if your child requires splints contact our physiotherapists. We are available to carry out assessments in all the main Surrey towns (Guilford, Weybridge, Cobham, Leatherhead, Dorking etc). We also assess in South / Central London and parts of Hampshire, West Sussex, Kent and Berkshire. For further information about our gait assessment please click here – https://wanderlusttherapyforkids.com/assessments/

Expertise

Lindsey Hopkinson (Children’s physiotherapist) has completed numerous post graduate training courses. These courses have been with the world renowned Elaine Owen who is an expert physiotherapist in orthotic management for children with Cerebral Palsy.

Lindsey has also worked closely with London Orthotics consultancy and spent time shadowing their orthotist team within the gait (walking) laboratory. Please visit www.londonorthotic.co.uk for more info regarding orthotic management for children with Cerebral Palsy.

Contact us for an informal chat to ask any questions specific to your child. We have children’s physiotherapists who are specialists working with children with Cerebral Palsy within Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Hampshire and parts of London. https://wanderlusttherapyforkids.com/contact/