Goal Pediatric Orthotics

Specialization drives better outcomes in any medical field. This proves especially true in orthotics, as the routine approach doesn’t fit adults and children alike. Adults consulting orthotists primarily require braces or splints to make patients’ body parts functional, post-stroke, accidents or conditions like diabetes, whereas children require support for congenital conditions like spina bifida, cerebral palsy or Down syndrome.

Prioritizing the needs of children with mobility issues, Goal Pediatric Orthotics specializes in pediatric orthotics—an extremely rare feat. Having clinics strategically located in Arizona and Utah, it follows a mobile model, bringing expert care directly to the children in need.

The pediatric orthotic clinic comprises a dedicated group of pediatric orthotists who explore the niche, backed by case studies and experience with the specific demographic. Departing from the traditional orthotist role of just fulfilling prescriptions for braces or devices for conditions, the Goal team collaborates closely with therapy teams and the child’s entire healthcare network to ensure optimal outcomes.

“Any family would want a specialist to attend to their child. That’s what we aim to do at Goal Pediatrics—to be the specialist that works with the kids and their diagnoses every single day,” says David Patterson, founder.

For a very long time, the orthotics field has relied on traditional materials and methods, creating a challenge of inconsistent outcomes due to the subjective nature of manual processes. Goal Pediatric Orthotics is working to address this by leveraging 3D printing technology, allowing for accurate data collection and consistent, replicable results.
To extend the reach of successful outcomes, the Goal team introduced its mobile model even before the pandemic hit the globe. Apart from providing consultations at its clinics and treatment gyms, the team visits several clinics strategically located in areas where families commonly receive therapy. By eliminating clinic visits, Goal Pediatric Orthotics becomes a lifeline for families with multiple children or special needs kids, juggling between hospital appointments and therapy sessions.

Many of these families also face financial challenges with transportation as their child’s medical complexity usually necessitates ambulance transport with a nurse. Goal Pediatric Orthotics’ model allows the team to bring care directly to the patient, whether at home or their physical or occupational therapy clinics. Being in such familiar environments helps children relax and behave naturally. This is an added benefit for therapists, as it improves the level of accuracy in evaluations.

Goal Pediatric Orthotics’ treatment approach is ingeniously crafted around soccer to increase comfort levels. Clinicians adopt the role of coaches, engaging kids with a small foam ball that resembles a soccer ball. As they play, clinicians discreetly observe functional deficits and gait abnormalities. This approach keeps the child comfortable while enhancing diagnostic accuracy and the precision of prescribed corrective options.

These interventions contribute to the team’s profound joy of witnessing children take their very first steps almost every week. For instance, clinicians often fit supra-malleolar orthoses (SMO) for children to realign misaligned ankles and provide stability. When a child’s ankles are loose, their brain might signal they are unsafe, preventing them from attempting to walk. Aided by SMOs, the children, who in most cases already have the strength and motivation to walk, finally gain the right alignment conducive to functional movement.

To further enhance children’s lives, Goal Pediatric Orthotics continually evolves its procedures, fostering partnerships with pediatric companies, organizations and manufacturers. Collaborating closely with a leading 3D printing company, it refined brace designs tailored specifically for children. Partnerships with shoe companies ensure the design of footwear that complements brace functionality, ensuring optimal performance.

Goal Pediatric Orthotics is committed to innovating and delivering the best possible care for children while becoming the trusted ally of concerned families.