Why Outsourcing Orthotics Had To Stop

by Scott Gormley

In 2020 many clinic owners and therapists made large changes to their practices, staffing, procedures and pretty much everything we considered normal. At Shropshire Physiotherapy, a Midlands-based multi-disciplinary clinic, we were not exempt from that. I made many plans and then alternative plans but one scribbled sentence changed my practice and profitability more than any other.

At the top of a notepad I had written

‘Pay others less, take more ownership’

These were words that would transform my practice adding over 100k in turnover over the next three years with us set to have increased by nearly 150-200k by year end in April 2025. My name is Scott Gormley, I am a clinic owner in Shropshire, a MSK physiotherapist by trade, and entrepreneur. I have a property portfolio outside of Physiotherapy and continue to be gripped and excited by opportunities both inside and outside the world of MSK.

The purpose of this piece is to introduce you to the opportunities of 3D printing and orthotics within your clinic or practice. Within the piece I will mention a number of brands; I have no commission or affiliation with them and my aim is to help you expand into a world of increased profitability.

Since graduation as a fresh-faced Physiotherapist and finding my feet in the world of professional football, I have always been interested in biomechanics. Whilst working in sport I became further interested in orthotics and this transferred into my practice. During my Masters I took every opportunity to spend time with podiatrists and therapists with special interests in orthotics.

In private practice I utilised orthotics in many different circumstances, whether it was to offload a chronically inflamed tib post tendon, reduce stress around a stiff hallux or reduce valgus or varus stresses in the knee. My job was to identify the issue, rehab the issue, introduce the idea of orthotics and refer to a local clinic to produce an orthotic that was used to aid recovery.