Welcome to the Podiatry Arena forums

You are currently viewing our podiatry forum as a guest which gives you limited access to view all podiatry discussions and access our other features. By joining our free global community of Podiatrists and other interested foot health care professionals you will have access to post podiatry topics (answer and ask questions), communicate privately with other members, upload content, view attachments, receive a weekly email update of new discussions, access other special features. Registered users do not get displayed the advertisements in posted messages. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our global Podiatry community today!

  1. Have you considered the Clinical Biomechanics Boot Camp Online, for taking it to the next level? See here for more.
    Dismiss Notice
Dismiss Notice
Have you considered the Clinical Biomechanics Boot Camp Online, for taking it to the next level? See here for more.
Dismiss Notice
Have you liked us on Facebook to get our updates? Please do. Click here for our Facebook page.
Dismiss Notice
Do you get the weekly newsletter that Podiatry Arena sends out to update everybody? If not, click here to organise this.

Orthotic & OA Presentation to GP's

Discussion in 'Biomechanics, Sports and Foot orthoses' started by Daniel Bagnall, Dec 2, 2007.

  1. Daniel Bagnall

    Daniel Bagnall Active Member


    Members do not see these Ads. Sign Up.
    Hello everyone,

    A local medical practice has asked me to come out and conduct a presentation on orthotic therapy and how orthotics may help with OA in the foot. I am busy working on my presentation at the moment, but I am not sure as to how much detail I should go into, as I don't want to cause any confusion.

    Has anyone had to do a similar thing? In addition would anybody have any helpful suggestions as to some of the topics GP's may find appealing?

    Any advice would be greatly appreciated:)

    Regards,

    Dan
     
  2. Craig Payne

    Craig Payne Moderator

    Articles:
    8
    Dan, the biggest issue you are going to have to address is justifying defending the cost of custom made orthotics --- thats all they will really care about.
     
    Last edited: Dec 3, 2007
  3. Daniel Bagnall

    Daniel Bagnall Active Member

    Thanks Craig,

    So would it be a good idea to discuss the differences between pre-fabs/custom devices, and their capabilities? You provided a list at bootcamp re: "Types of Foot Orthoses", which was progressively outlining the effectiveness of pre-fabs, and then eventually custom devices. Could I go along these lines?

    Any further suggestions?

    Regards,

    Dan
     
  4. Craig Payne

    Craig Payne Moderator

    Articles:
    8
    Absolutely!

    I have been embarrased to be a Podiatrist at times when speaking to GP groups (so much so, that I avoid doing it as much as I can); its very uncomfortable when you get confronted with scams ....my most recent expereince was when a GP who specialises in occupational health and acts as the gatekeeper for a number of employer groups....he wanted to know why when the employer is paying that so many podiatrists they refered to the patient needed two pairs of orthotics and when the patient was paying, they only ever needed one pair?
     
  5. Daniel Bagnall

    Daniel Bagnall Active Member

    Craig,

    I completely understand where your coming from, I couldn't think of anything worse!

    Rather than trying to go into too much depth, I think I will focus more of my attention on the importance of commonsense and logic as to why we would use pre-fab or custom.

    Regards,

    Dan
     
  6. Boots n all

    Boots n all Well-Known Member

    l Work on the old theory of KISS “,
    Keep I t Simple Stupid”
    l gave a mini presentation to some Osteos here one night, my thoughts were “Dont get to tech, these guys “should” know more than l do” l spoke of “Nuts and Bolts” type things, the things that can clearly be seen/shown with a few pics like, LLD, FFF and heavly worn down shoes (Lateral heels) and how they could all course relative to lower back pain.
    l showed how l made the assessment, what l did, what it did and how it worked for the client, cost never got a mention other than "of course we are reconised by Health insurance providers"
    Your GP's have given you a topic, pics are better than words l feel sometimes.
     
  7. Daniel Bagnall

    Daniel Bagnall Active Member

    Hi David,

    Thanks for honest advice and help. I'll definately take all of what you said into consideration.

    Cheers,

    Dan
     
  8. LuckyLisfranc

    LuckyLisfranc Well-Known Member

    Dan

    Also, put things into a global perspective in any comments about orthoses.

    Orthoses/footwear mods etc are just one tool in managing OA in the foot and ankle. They are a conservative, low risk option to managing these conditions long term, and are questionably cheaper in the long term than other therapies such as COX-2 inhibitors and glucosamine/chondroitin.

    GPs, in my experience, DO NOT like sending people off for foot surgery. Put things into perspective by being upfront and telling them that surgery will often the only other alternative if patients do not receive orthoses. At the end of the day, there is little to lose by at least attempting mechanical therapy, and almost every foot surgeon will like to see a record of a patient "trying and failing" with more than one conservative therapy.

    An arthrodesis or shoe insert? Its a pretty straight forward argument that GPs will appreciate.

    LL
     
  9. Craig Payne

    Craig Payne Moderator

    Articles:
    8
    The other thing have come across with GP's is that some have some funny ideas on common things like plantar fasciitis .... met one the other week that all he gets his patients to do is roll the foot over a tennis ball. I have seen a couple of snippets in general/family practice magazines/newsletters that foot orthoses for plantar fasciitis don't work based on Karl's study (which actually showed they worked). There was also the GP's in this thread that routinely give people 3 months off work for plantar fasciitis.
     
    Last edited: Dec 3, 2007
  10. Daniel Bagnall

    Daniel Bagnall Active Member

    Hi Lucky,

    Thank you for your input. This is a point I really want to try emphsise to the GP's, as you are right, "there is little to lose". I think there is enough eveidence out there now to justify this.

    Kind Regards,

    Dan
     
  11. Daniel Bagnall

    Daniel Bagnall Active Member

    Hello again everyone,

    I would just like to say thank you for all your input and suggestions. I found it very helpful.

    I completed the presentation today and it went really well, a lot longer than expected though. BTW Craig, if your reading, there were some issues reagrding orthotic costs, but it never got to the point where I felt uncomfortable (thank goodness).

    Cheers,

    Dan
     
Loading...

Share This Page