Testimonials
Steve Bartlett, Sheffield, UK
I have recently been suffering with a condition called “Dropfoot” Caused by a trapped nerve the condition consists of a loss of muscle control in the affected foot. It “drops” and it becomes impossible to hold the foot up. The “dropping” means that walking becomes difficult and is only possible if you lift your knee much higher than normal to compensate for the hanging foot. As you would imagine, this takes some getting used to and results in many stumbles and trips.
I have tried to find some way of compensating for this and have tried a number of solutions. Many of these involve a strapping around the ankle and elastic straps attached to the shoe lacing to keep the foot level. These are ok but the fact that the anchoring of the straps is around the ankle does cause consequential pain in a joint that is already under stress and painful due to the unusual strains it is under.
I then discovered the TurboMed Xtern Orthotic Kit. This device fits around the shoe/boot (either is fine incl. sandals) and the foot is braced by the frame around the shoe which clips into a bracket that fits into the lace holes of the shoe. The bracing therefore is not centred around the ankle but is taken up by a frame that fits around the calf by padded straps.
This has meant I can walk nearly normally and, most importantly, means I can drive. Driving with a “dropping” foot is tricky as the foot movement is slowed down. This is now not a problem.
Whilst this is not a cure what is does do is make day to day movement as normal as possible. Take it from me, that in itself, is a massive plus in dealing with this condition.
If you are struggling with this condition and looking for something that will restore your mobility then I would suggest you contact your physician and see if the NHS can provide one of these.
Meeting a Hero!
By way of introduction, I am Ray Riley. I am a 68-year-old retired Police Traffic Patrol Officer and Coach driver.
On the 15th May 2018 I had a major muscle in my right leg removed due to cancer. This left me with a “dropped” right foot making walking difficult and driving even more so. I could press down with my right foot but not lift the toes.
In July of that year, I was supplied with a TurboMed FS3000 device which mimicked the effort of the muscle I no longer had.
To walk into a clinic on crutches and, within minutes, to be told to stand up, walk to the door, exit that door, walk up and down a gravel slope and then to drive my wife’s car around the car park was, to say the least, an emotional experience.
I had regained independence. I could walk without danger of falling and, having later been assessed for the DVLA, I retained not just my car licence but my licences to drive trucks and coaches.
All this with a device which most people did not notice.
There is a saying that you should not meet your heroes for fear they may not meet your expectations. Well, I met mine and was not disappointed.
On 5th May 2022 I went to Blatchford’s in Sheffield to obtain a new device. I had been told that there would be Canadians there to set up the new device. What I was not told was that the inventors of the TurboMed were to be present.
Francois Cote, who wears this device, and Stephane Savard set up my new Xtern Summit version.
Is it different? Yes!
It is sleeker and even less noticeable. I entered the clinic wearing my usual (smartish) trainer style shoes. I left wearing formal shoes for the first time in four years. Handy as later this year I will walk my younger daughter down the aisle!
It is lighter. Out of curiosity I weighed both old and new. The new weighs two thirds of the old.
It has a quicker reaction time, not that the previous one was slow.
The day after I got the Xtern I went to catch a train, mistimed my walk, and ended up jogging a part of the way to the station. I could not do that in the old device.
To say I am delighted is an understatement. To meet Francois and Stephane, to shake their hands and say simply, thank you, was icing on the cake.
Ray, Wigan, UK
Kate, Louth, UK
After being issued with two Turbomed XTERNS by the Orthotic team at Louth Hospital, I found over a period of time that neither appeared to fit properly, so I made contact with the company Blatchford. I received a telephone call from David Bownes, their New Product Integration Manager to discuss all my concerns with my Turbomeds. The following day I rang Blatchford to make an appointment to visit their facility in Sheffield. David expressed that he would try to be on site for my appointment. On arrival I received the most professional, kind and sincere attention and my husband and I learned more from this visit than at any point previously elsewhere.
We came away knowing how to fit my Turbomed properly to my shoes after a very in depth assessment of my foot and how I walked from David and his colleague Bracken. Their product knowledge was second to none and both myself and my husband came away “on a high” with such positive results from our visit. As a consequence I have a selection of shoes I can now wear, thanks to the expertise of David and Bracken.
Having the Turbomed fitting correctly, I straight away got the feeling that I did at my Orthotic assessment, which was “I’m back”. I felt that I had my independence back. It gives you great support without being heavy or stiff like some AFO’s. Added advantage is it fits outside the shoe. I would strongly recommend the Turbomed XTERN to anyone suffering from foot drop.
I cannot recommend the team at Blatchford highly enough for their professional and understanding help with my needs and foot drop condition.
Simon, Southampton, UK
As a patient who suffers with foot drop caused by Guillain-Barré syndrome, I have used various orthotic products over the years to aid me walk. Being an employee at Blatchford meant that I was kept in the know of any new advances in technology by our wonderful clinical teams. When David Bownes let me know that there was a new partnership developing with Turbomed I jumped (not literally) at the opportunity to trial a pair to see how they worked for me.
All I can say is WOW!! Due to how they attach to the shoe and not your actual foot they offer freedom of movement to the ankle joint while also providing support, as well as fully lifting your foot during walking which is phenomenal. I do some water sports in the summer months and getting sand in an orthotic is one discomfort I have had to live with for years, not with these though! It’s going to make the beach a whole new pleasure and I cannot wait to use them around and, in the pool, too!
I don’t have the words to thank the hard-working clinical teams within this business who I have had the pleasure of working with over the years, enough. They really do make a difference and from two employees who suffer with mobility issues I can only once again offer our deepest thanks.
