Please see below some of the common health conditions that can require orthotic/prosthetic intervention
- Diabetic foot: Diabetes can cause reduced sensation, poor circulation and slower healing in the feet. This increases the risk of pressure damage, ulcers, infection and, in severe cases, amputation.
Please see the Diabetes Foot Leaflets below:
Diabetes Foot Leaflets
- Advice for looking after your Charcot foot to reduce the risk of amputation
- High-Risk of non – healing wounds and amputation
- Footwear advice to reduce the risk of non-healing foot wounds or amputation
- Advice to help you care for your feet on holiday
- Looking after your foot in remission, to reduce the risk of further ulcers and amputation
- Looking after your foot ulcer to reduce the risk of amputation
- Low risk of non-healing wounds and amputation
- Moderate risk of non-healing wounds and amputation
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): A long-term autoimmune condition that causes inflammation, pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints. In the feet, it can lead to joint deformity, altered walking patterns and difficulty finding comfortable footwear.
- Stroke: A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted. It may cause muscle weakness, altered sensation, poor balance, spasticity and reduced control of the affected arm or leg.
- Motor neurone disease (MND): A progressive neurological condition affecting the nerves that control movement. It causes increasing muscle weakness and may lead to difficulties with walking, balance, speech, swallowing and breathing.
- Foot pain: Foot pain can arise from injury, inflammation, arthritis, nerve problems, unsuitable footwear or changes in foot structure and movement. It may affect mobility, balance and participation in everyday activities.
- “Flat feet”: This describes feet with a low or absent arch, particularly when standing. It is often painless and does not always require treatment, but some people experience discomfort, fatigue or changes in walking and may benefit from footwear advice, exercises or orthotic support.
- Cerebral palsy– Cerebral palsy is the name for a group of lifelong conditions that affect movement and co-ordination. It’s caused by a problem with the brain that develops before, during or soon after birth. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cerebral-palsy/
- Multiple sclerosis – Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord. It can cause a range of symptoms like blurred vision and problems with how we move, think and feel. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/multiple-sclerosis/ What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)? | MS Society
- Osteoarthritis – Osteoarthritis is a condition that causes joints to become painful and stiff. It’s the most common type of arthritis in the UK.
- Poliomyelitis– Polio virusis a serious infection that’s now very rare because of the vaccination programme. Post polio syndrome can affect some people that have had polio virus later on in life and often comes with increased muscle weakness. Post-polio syndrome | NHS Inform
- Peripheral arterial disease – Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common condition where a build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries restricts blood supply to leg muscles.
- Congenital limb deficiencies – Congenital limb deficiency refers to a birth condition where there is abnormalities in the formation of a limb. Congenital Limb Defects | Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia