Orthotists

About our service

We aim to help you to:

• Prevent functional problems through health promotion
• Relieve pain
• Maintain function and mobility
• Reduce the risk of ulceration and amputation

The Community Orthotics service provides care across Stockport, providing orthotic support to both adults and children, supporting and working with Adult Services and Paediatric Physiotherapy.

We work as integral members of the Integrated Care business group interfacing with other community services such as Podiatry, Physiotherapy and GPs.

We offer

Appropriate assessment and treatment of those referred with functional prolems.

Specialist prevention and education for our patients.

• We are a community based service at Kingsgate House in Stockport
• Our clinics run five days a week, offering services to all ages and genders, with children`s clinics on a Tuesday
• Patients are referred by GPs, Health Care Professionals and other services

Our Expertise

• Our orthotists have many years of experience in the profession, leading to excellent knowledge of all conditions
• Full anatomy, biomechanics and gait analysis knowledge
• Speciality knee supports (osteoarthritis, ligament, meniscus, patella – femoral) and foot/ankle mechanics

Orthoses can help realign body segments and reduce symptoms related to:

• Bunions (hallux valgus)
• Forefoot pain (metatarsalgia)
• Policeman’s heel (plantar fasciitis)
• Achilles problems
• Shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome)
• Going over on ankle (ankle instabilities)
• Golfer/tennis elbow (epicondylitis)
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Low back pain
• Knee pain
• Neck pain
• Arthritic problems (osteoarthritis)

How to use the service

Before your visit

Your referral will be processed by our admin team and you will be notified of your appointment.

During your visit

No matter what your reasons for visiting the orthotist, the appointment will always start with a discussion about the problem you are presenting with, and how it is affecting you and the activities you want to perform.

The orthotist will ask questions to understand the clinical history, your activity levels, and your expectations. With your permission, the orthotist will then perform a physical assessment, which may include testing the range of movement of joints, muscle powers, or gait analysis.

The orthotist will then have an understanding of the functional problem, and can formulate a treatment plan to fit in with your lifestyle and expectations. Your first assessment with us should last 15 to 20 minutes. Any further appointments to have an orthotic fitted or reviewed should last 10 to 30 minutes.

After your visit

After your initial assessment appointment, if you are not fitted with a device on that day you will be given an appointment to come back for the fitting, usually a few weeks later.

A review appointment might also be given at this point to check how it is working. For any problems in the meantime, you should contact the orthotics department who will look into the issue.

Items can be dropped in for general repairs, however due to the orthotist’s time constraints it is not normally possible for them to check over each item at the time it is brought in.