Firefly MSK Workshop Report

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13 podiatrists from across the UK and Ireland and one from Latvia travelled to Sligo for a full-day musculoskeletal (MSK) workshop at Firefly’s offices recently, with the goal of learning how to achieve better patient outcomes.

For podiatrist whose caseload may not regularly see them treat patients with MSK pathologies, biomechanics can seem daunting. With this in mind the Firefly workshop was designed to develop the attendees understanding of how to assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate a appropriate MSK treatments.

Sports Podiatrist, Adam McIlwaine kicked off the morning session with some podiatric theory as a grounding before he demonstrated a number of key clinical MSK assessments.

The group then explored movement patterns and fundamentals of gait analysis with Adam. A topic he excels at from his professional clinical experience treating elite level athletes including his work with Ulster Rugby.

In the afternoon, Martin Mc Geough lead a discussion on prescription writing for custom made foot orthoses, offering his pearls of wisdom on how to effectively prescribe for common pathologies.

Extended Scope MSK Podiatrist, Greg Gillanders has a special interest and extensive experience in the field of bracing therapy. He led a discussion on AFO rehabilitation and demonstrated Plaster of Paris casting for bracing therapy.

The day drew to a close with Firefly podiatrist Sarah O’Connell working through a number of case histories as a re-cap and theoretical application of the day’s learning.

If you wish to find out more about Firefly’s future MSK training opportunities, join our workshop mailing list.

RRU Podiatrists Visit Firefly

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Following a recent successful military tender application, Firefly welcomed ten RRU podiatrists to Sligo for a training day, continuing Firefly’s commitment to providing custom made orthoses solutions to the military.

RRU Podiatrists at Firefly Orthoses HQ

Despite a slightly later than scheduled start, due to a delayed inbound flight from Stansted airport, the RRU podiatrists arrived to Firefly Orthoses with a busy day’s agenda ahead, designed to provide them with a grounding in Firefly’s range of products, insight into Firefly’s manufacturing profile and to connect them to Firefly’s Technical Support department.

Martin from Firefly discussing Firefly’s range of products with RRU Podiatrists

The morning started with an introduction to the processes used to produce Firefly’s foot orthotic product range, covering manual manufacture, Cad-Cam, direct milled, vacuum formed and 3D printed procedures. The visiting podiatrists discussed load management and considered the effects of kinetics and kinematics in patient treatment.

Sorcha demonstrates Firefly’s manufacturing process

A tour of Firefly’s lab and clinical division was finished off by calling to RunPod – Firefly’s sister, Podiatrist lead, running shoe store. RunPod offer customers a biomechanical assessments and shoe selection advice to guide the customer in finding the most suitable shoe for their needs.

RRU Podiatrists tour Firefly’s Clinic and sister running shoe store RunPod

Bracing therapy was covered in the afternoon session with a focus on the Richie Brace range of AFOs. The podiatrists were also introduced to the innovative Wiivv ‘recovery’ sandals and worked through the process of capturing their own foot data using the Wiivv mobile app. The podiatrists will receive their own 3D printed Wiivv sandals in the coming weeks.

Casting for Richie Brace Workshop lead by Greg Gillanders of Firefly

The day concluded with the podiatrist crossing the Garavogue River for an evening meal in the Glasshouse Hotel, and events were brought to a close with a pint of Guinness in Sligo’s oldest pub, Thomas Connolly’s Bar on Markievicz Road.

Guinness time at Connolly’s Bar

Thank you to all the RRU podiatrists for making the time to visit Firefly and to spend some time in Sligo – the land of hearts desire.

October’s Firefly MSK Workshop: Fully Subscribed

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Firefly’s MSK Workshop, scheduled for later this month (October 2018), is fully subscribed. From the people who delivered the #FireflySummit, the Firefly MSK workshop has been designed to equip attendees with actionable skills they can bring to their own clinical work-flow to achieve better patient outcomes.

If you are interested in finding how you can benefit from attending the next Firefly MSK Workshop, provisionally scheduled for February 2019, click the button below to join the mailing list.

Join the Mailing List

Podiatrists who complete the one-day workshop will have develop skills to assess, diagnose and treat a range of MSK pathologies with confidence.

The workshop is fully CPD accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.

 

 

Firefly Achieves Cyber Essentials security award

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Firefly Orthoses has been awarded the Cyber Essentials Standard by Certification Europe. In achieving the award, Firefly Orthoses was assessed as meeting the Cyber Essentials implementation profile [BIS/14/696/1.5] and thus that, at the time of testing, the Firefly’s ICT defences were assessed as satisfactory against commodity based cyber-attack.

Firefly is committed to implementing measures that protect the data collected as part of the processes and procedures in place to deliver our services and products. The Cyber Essentials certification is further evidence of Firefly’s commitment to data security.

The Power of Bracing Therapy | Firefly MSK Workshop

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Bracing Therapy and the Firefly MSK Workshop

At October’s Firefly MSK Workshop, Greg Gillanders will present on prescribing from the Richie Brace range of AFOs – selecting the most appropriate device for the patient’s pathology.  The Richie Brace is described as a ‘game-changer‘ and can fundamentally change patient’s lives for the better. To get an idea of how effective the Richie Brace range can be, check out this product review from Tweed Podiatry.

If you are interested in adding bracing therapy to your prescription tool kit, book your place at October’s Firefly MSK Workshop.

ENROLL NOW

 

What is Bracing Therapy

Bracing therapy is a growing prescription solution in the field of podiatry. Previously, foot braces had a bad reputation among patients. They were bulky and uncomfortable and did not fit with patients life-style and needs.  Advances in material technology has meant AFO – ankle foot orthoses, are now designed to fit comfortably and discretely in a patients shoe and can bring life changing benefits.

These low-profile devices allow for better fit, more freedom of movement and reduced pain from injury with many patients eventually recovering to discontinue the wearing of such braces.

What is the Potential of Bracing Therapy

At Firefly, we have had huge success with the Richie Brace range of AFOs for the treatment of chronic conditions of the foot and ankle. With a contoured balanced orthotic footplate articulated to adjustable semi-rigid lower leg uprights, the Richie Brace is ideally suited to stabilise rotational forces at the Midtarsal Subtalar and Talo-Crural joints. Modifications and enhancements are available to add further restrictions of motion in sagittal, frontal and transverse plane.

Richie Brace, the game changer

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The Richie Brace is a game changer. It can fundamentally change the patients life, elevating pain and significantly improving mobility. Read this great patient outcome from Tweed Podiatry and find out how you can prescribe the Richie Brace range of AFOs in your clinic.

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Prescription Writing Pearls of Wisdom | Firefly MSK Workshop

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Firefly Founder and Medical Director Martin Mc Geough will be among the speakers at October’s Firefly MSK Workshop where he will deliver his prescription writing pearls of wisdom.

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MSK Workshop | Meet the Speakers

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The Firefly MSK Workshop is a one-day theoretical and practical CPD event, designed with the aim of up-skilling and building clinical knowledge.

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RUTH MACKIE: COMMUNICATING PODIATRIC PATHOMECHANICS TO THE PATIENT

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What is the connection between Crunchy Bars and Talar Dome fractures? Keep reading to find out…

The #FireflySummit was designed to highlight some of the tools and hacks the UK and Ireland’s leading podiatrists use on a daily basis to efficiently treat their patient’s. Ruth Mackie’s rapid-fire presentation got right to heart of this, focusing on metaphors and analogies she has discovered that helps her communicate complex pathologies to the uninitiated patient.

ABOUT RUTH’S PRESENTATION

Patients will place greater confidence in the podiatrist who can communicate pathologies and treatment plans in a clear manner. If you can find common ground when discussing pathologies and eaily communicate medical or anatomical terms, the patient is more likely to follow your prescription and treatment plan, positively promote you to their friends and family and return to your clinic.

View Ruth’s 10 minute presentation to discover the connection between:

  • rubber bands and Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction
  • how moored cruse ships help explain Achilles Tendonitis
  • and how a Crunchy Bar helps patients understand Talar Dome fractures.

About Ruth Mackie

Ruth Mackie graduated from Queens University, Belfast with a BMed Sci (Hons Podiatry) in 1999. After completing an international externship at the Temple School of Podiatric Medicine in the USA she has worked in both NHS and private podiatry clinics, specialising in podiatric biomechanics, gait analysis and orthotic prescription for the last 12 years.

Ruth completed her Masters degree in Podiatric Surgical Theory in 2008 with a research dissertation on the effect of silicone heel pads on non pathological gait. She was admitted to the Faculty of Podiatric Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow in 2015. Ruth is one of two podiatrists in the specialist Orthopaedic Lower Limb Triage team for the South and East Health and Social Care Trust, Northern Ireland.

ABOUT THE FIREFLY SUMMIT 2017

When we designed the Firefly Summit 2017 we wanted to create a podiatric event like no other. We invited 11 female and 10 male speakers to Sligo. Selected for their expertise and hands-on experience, these top clinicians collaborated on topics to deliver world-class podiatric presentations communicating their ‘clinical gold’ to the Summit delegates.

It wasn’t all podiatric talk. To keep things interesting, all 200 delegates and speakers immersed themselves in the beauty of the wilds of Ireland’s north west coast, taking part in surfing, hiking, stand up paddle-boarding and seaweed baths – WOW!

Don’t miss out!

Interested in finding out more about Firefly’s products and industry leading technical support? Click or tap the button below.

Discover the benefits of Firefly

MSK Workshop | October 2018

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The next Firefly MSK Workshop takes place October 20th in Sligo, the home of Firefly Orthoses. Join the mailing list to to keep up to date with all the workshop news.

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