Archie walking in our Kingston gait lab in his ankle foot orthoses and walking frame
06 December 2024
Archie had a traumatic birth and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy quadraplegia, the most severe type of cerebral palsy, affecting all four limbs. The majority of children with this condition rely on a wheelchair.
The quote here is from one of the consultants Archie was seeing in his early years. Given this bleak outlook and feeling that the splints, or Ankle Foot Orthoses (AFOs) provided by the NHS were not really helping, Archie’s mother Henrietta was searching for help and Archie’s physiotherapist who worked at Kiki’s Clinic in South West London suggested that Henrietta contact the London Orthotic Consultancy as she had previously referred patients and was impressed by the orthotic treatments provided.
One of Archie's first appointments in the gait lab walking barefoot
Archie was first assessed by Sam Walmsley (senior orthotist and one of LOC’s founders) in 2013 when Archie was 4 years old. Archie is now 15.
From a clinical perspective, the challenge initially was to look after his feet as they were in quite a poor position due to incorrect orthotic prescription, his AFOs were not controlling his foot posture. In addition, Archie had stiffness in his hips, hamstrings and calf muscles. Sam prescribed bespoke AFOs in combination with specialist footwear and Archie began his journey with LOC.
An early gait lab assessment in his bespoke ankle foot orthoses
A recent gait lab assessment from 2024 in his latest pair of ankle foot orthoses
He and Henrietta have witnessed many changes in the years he has been an LOC patient. In 2015, LOC joined forces with Elaine Owen MBE MSc SRP MCSP , to launch an OSKAR clinic at LOC’s headquarters in Kingston. The Optimal Segmental Kinematics and Alignment Approach to Rehabilitation (OSKAR) is an orthotic method of treating children with lower limb neurological conditions like those caused by cerebral palsy.
It was originally developed by Elaine who is a world-renowned physiotherapist; she was awarded an MBE in 2012 for services to children with disabilities. Fundamental to the efficacy of the clinic is the video vector gait laboratory which was opened in the same year.
A gait laboratory is a specialised facility equipped with technology that assesses human movement and gait pattern (the way a person walks). This purpose-built lab includes a set of cameras, force plates and other measurement devices that capture and analyse the movement of various parts of the body during walking. This analysis can help identify the source of any muscle, nerve or skeletal problems that affect a person’s mobility.
Archie's gait lab analysis with Elaine Owen and Sam Walmsley
Over the years, Archie has been seen at regular intervals as he grew; his walking and range of movement at his hips, knees and ankles have been continuously monitored in our Gait Lab. The combination of the OSKAR programme and LOC’s bespoke orthotics have helped Archie through his growing years.
Archie now has an excellent gait pattern that will serve him very well as he goes into adulthood. In contrast to when he was first seen by LOC he has very good feet, stable knees and hips and a straight spine, giving him the best chance of living a functional, pain-free adult life. When he stops growing, the management of his condition will ease as he will require less input from LOC’s orthotists.
Contrary to the consultant’s prediction, Archie can get around with the help of a walking frame and continues to make good progress. Henrietta comments: “Sam has been fantastic with Archie, he actually enjoys coming to LOC and now has quite a bit of banter with Sam when we come in for a review. This is in direct contrast with the atmosphere when seeing the majority of the consultants we see. Sam knows and understands Archie’s capabilities. It has been wonderful to enjoy the consistency of care provided by Sam and LOC and the improvements to Archie’s moving, walking and gait are testament to the bespoke orthotics that LOC have produced for him over the years.”
If you’d like to find out if and how orthotics can help your child with cerebral palsy, please book an appointment today.
