Raising awareness of the different approaches to hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) and Ehlers-danlos syndrome, were the key themes of the annual orthotics conference, organised by Peacocks Medical Group
The FORTH Conference– Forward Orthotic Thinking, is a key calendar event, helping to raise awareness of important subject areas and, this year, it was led by Helen McCormack, senior orthotist at Peacocks Medical Group.
Established in 1903, Peacocks Medical Group is a multi-award-winning, family-run group, providing outstanding care in the delivery of both clinical services and medical equipment to the NHS and the private sector.
The multidisciplinary online event saw speakers based in the North East present to clinicians from across the country.
The event welcomed a range of industry acclaimed specialists including Victoria Harbottle, senior paediatric physiotherapist at the Great North Children’s Hospital and NIHR/HEE pre-doctoral clinical academic fellow, who provided a paediatric overview.
Rachel Cooper, MCSP and Liz Clayton, MCSP, specialist physiotherapists at the Great North Children’s Hospital RVI, discussed current physiotherapy treatment. Dr Vandeveld Saravanan, consultant rheumatologist, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, addressed the topic of ‘what happens in an adult world?’
Amy Telford, specialist occupational therapist, Great North Children’s Hospital RVI, spoke on ‘occupational therapy options, treatment and principles and options for approach’.
Helen McCormack, senior orthotist at Peacocks Medical Group, explored ‘Orthotic options, treatment principles and options for approach’.
Helen McCormack, said: “The aim of the conference was to highlight the different approaches to hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) and Ehlers-danlos syndrome and to continue the conversation. HSD are a group of conditions related to joint hypermobility. HSD are intended to be diagnosed after other possible answers are excluded, such as any of the Ehlers-danlos syndromes (EDS), including hypermobile EDS (hEDS). HSD, just like hEDS, can have significant effects on our health, so continuing to engage and share knowledge and research, will be to the benefit of patients.
“Our speakers specialised in differing areas and whilst many of the audience are used to seeing and treating the musculo-skeletal challenges of those with hypermobility, Dr Saravanan, consultant rheumatologist from Gateshead, presented a case with complex associated medical conditions which, whilst a lot less common, are life changing. He highlighted the challenge of managing and caring for those with more complex problems and proposed that there is a current gap in our health service for looking after these patients.”