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The OrthoPed Foot Drop Splint

The OrthoPed Foot Drop Splint has been specially designed to help people with conditions which mean they find it more difficult to lift the front of their foot.

The splint is patented and has been designed to allow people with foot drop to walk in a more typical way, with more energy efficiency and to try to reduce falls. The OrthoPed splint can be worn with Velcro fastening or lace up shoes.

It has been rigorously tested in a laboratory by the National Physical Laboratory and in clinical studies in conjunction with the University of Portsmouth and 2 NHS Trusts. We have been supported by funding from Innovate UK, Innovate UK Business Growth, UK Research and Innovation and SIGHT.

Photograph of the OrthoPed Foot Drop Splint

Splint Testing & Guarantee

The splint has been tested by the National Physical Laboratory and it should last a minimum of 6 months of regular use.

A 6-month guarantee is offered on the OrthoPed splint. If the splint becomes faulty within this period under typical use, we will replace it.

Child's foot walking down the stairs with the OrthoPed splint on their shoe

Our History

OrthoPed was established by Claire Narborough, a physiotherapist, out of frustration with current products on the market for people with moderate foot drop. In 2018 Claire made the first few designs for the OrthoPed splint with help from her mother-in-law's sewing skills and sewing machine. This allowed her to quickly and continually develop the splint. In 2019 she set up the company, OrthoPed Ltd, and started applying for grant funding to allow her to develop the splint further.

Claire was successful with multiple rounds of grant funding from 2020 - present, which has allowed her to have the OrthoPed splint tested in a laboratory, in clinical studies with patients and fast-track the development of both the splint and the business. In 2022 and 2023, she was successful in her applications for 2 larger grants from Innovate UK, along with some smaller ERDF funded grants. These have allowed Claire to commence clinical studies of the OrthoPed splint in children and adults and allowed her to complete the documentation needed to comply with the regulatory requirements needed to place the OrthoPed splint on the UK market.

Please click here to see the results of the clinical studies.

Funding

The clinical studies were co-funded by Innovate UK, the UK's innovation agency and OrthoPed Ltd, with the majority of the funding provided by Innovate UK under project number 10025587 and 10065645. Innovate UK drives productivity and growth by supporting businesses to develop and realise the potential of new ideas. They connect businesses to the partners, customers and investors that can help them turn ideas into commercially successful products and services and business growth. They fund business and research collaborations to accelerate innovation and drive business investment into R&D. Their support is available to businesses across all economic sectors, value chains and UK regions. Innovate UK is part of UK Research and Innovation. For more information visit Innovate UK Business Growth.

Child running and smiling, with other children and adults running in the background

Child climbing up a climbing frame and smiling, with a caregiver assisting

Feedback

Feedback on the OrthoPed splint was recently collated through an Innovate UK funded Clinical Study in collaboration with the University of Portsmouth and Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) sessions at Southampton General Hospital and Queen Alexandra Hospital. The results are available to read below.

Source: OrthoPed Children's Study

« The OrthoPed splint would mean he would have more choice of shoes to wear and wear shoes like his friends, rather than trying to find shoes that the orthotics fit in »
« It feels more comfortable and doesn’t rub or cause blisters »
« She found it a lot more comfortable than her usual splint »
« It's not overly big or in your face so she would be happy to wear daily unlike a typical splint which stops her wearing a lot of outfits or shoes »
« Felt comfortable and looked discreet »
« I don’t feel it and can forget it is on »
« I can put it on myself »
« I can run with it on, I haven’t run in months »
« It is so simple but works »
« Her walking is much better in the OrthoPed splint »
« This is great, I haven’t seen her run in ages »
« The OrthoPed splint gives her that improved confidence to walk »

Source: Southampton General Hospital Physio’s PPI session – 29/04/2025

Benefits

Home of the OrthoPed Foot Drop Splint