Hospital puts its best foot forward
A new high tech machine which starred in BBC’s Dragon’s Den and could help people suffering knee and back pain, is now available at Spire Bushey Hospital.
The Gaitscan, which measures how people walk, uses a pressure plate which scans at 300 times per second to produce 2D and 3D images of a patient’s feet. It can help people suffering from knee and lower back pain, as a result of walking incorrectly.
The team who came face to face with the Dragons unfortunately didn’t get funding on the programme but physiotherapists at Spire Healthcare were really impressed with the machine, which isn’t available on the NHS.
Miranda Dodd, physiotherapy manager at Spire Bushey Hospital, said the Gaitscan has really helped her patients who have lower limb dysfunction or spinal dysfunction.
“We carry out gait analysis working closely with foot and ankle consultants, the Gaitscan lets us give a much more in depth analysis for our patients so we can tailor treatment to the individual. If necessary special tailored shoe insoles called orthotics can be ordered online to help correct gait problems.” She said.
“Some specific groups which benefit from gait analysis include athletes with recurrent niggling injuries; people wanting advice on the best type of trainer to wear for their foot type; any patient with persistent lower limb or spinal dysfunction that could be attributed to their gait pattern; and Gait re-education programmes for patients with neurological deficit.”
Spire Bushey Hospital has already treated 72 patients and Spire Healthcare is looking at how to roll out this service to all patients across its network of 25 private hospitals.
3 December 2007
To make an appointment with a physiotherapist please call the number above
