Dr Stephen Hutchins

Senior Lecturer

• Brian Blatchford PO46
• T: 0161 295 2320
• E: s.hutchins@salford.ac.uk
• SEEK: Research profile

Monday 9.00am – 5.00pm

Stephen is a Senior lecturer in orthotics. He specializes in all aspects of orthotic intervention and in particular that associated with the lower limb and also orthotic devices. His special research interests are in treatment of intermittent claudication and shoe outsole designs.

He joined the university in 1994 as a lecturer and was promoted to senior lecturer in 1999. He is a previous Director of orthotics and serves on a number of national committees. He is also a past Chairman of BAPO.

He has just been appointed as one of only 29 mentors in England for the NIHR faculty for Clinical Academic Training pathway for up and coming researchers in the AHP field and nursing.

He has a PhD and MSc by research and is registered with the HCPC as an orthotist.

Stephen teaches on all aspects of clinical orthotics on the BSc(Hons) prosthetics and Orthotics programme.

I have taught the following subjects and modules:

• Pathologies and Physiology
• Research methods
• Medical Statistics
• Dissertation Modules
• Prosthetic and Orthotic Science
• Design processes
• Student placement modules
• Skeletal anatomy
• Pathophysiology

I use a number of techniques during my teaching modules such as direct formal lectures, laboratory sessions to reinforce the theory taught in the classroom, clinical sessions and workshop sessions when required. My aim is always to ensure the subject matter is focussed but also interesting and at the correct academic level to ensure the students can understand the information presented but also be challenged to develop an enquiring mind. I utilise group work and feedback sessions to encourage teamwork and tutorials and case scenarios to make modules interesting and stimulating. I utilise an “open door policy where possible and offer tutorials (either personal or in groups) in order to ensure the students understand the subject to the required level.

My philosophy of teaching is to allow individuals to develop their knowledge in a logical and structured way and so that they initially understand the base knowledge required for the subject and then guide them to progress to research areas of interest within the remit of the module structure. I find this keeps the students interested and focussed and encourages them to become interested in the subject.

Stephen’s research interests are in numerous aspects of lower limb orthotics as well as some prosthetic applications. He has a special interest in footwear features, especially rocker sole profiles and their effect on the kinetics and kinematics of human gait, plus orthotic treatment of adult stroke patients. He also has an interest in powered orthoses and their biomechanical effect on patients with spinal cord injury.

PhD by thesis 2007

MSc by research thesis 1997

Diploma in Orthotics  1978

PGDip in Prosthetic Biomechanics  1991

PGDip in Orthotic Biomechanics 1993

Memberships

Registered as an Orthotist with HCPC

Member of ISPO UKMS

Member of BAPO

Member of NIHR faculty as a mentor under the CAT scheme

Publications by Thesis                        

Hutchins S W, 2007, The effect of rocker sole profiles on gait - implications for claudicants, Phd Thesis, University of Salford, Manchester, UK.

Hutchins, S W 1997, Design and biomechanical efficacy of orthotic joints for use in lateral prohylactic knee orthoses, MSc Thesis, University of Salford, Manchester, UK.

Refereed Journal Articles / Publications

Kobayashi, T & Leung, A K & Akazawa, Y & Hutchins, S W 2012, 'Effect of ankle-foot orthoses on the sagittal plane displacement of the center of mass in patients with stroke hemiplegia: a pilot study.', Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, 19(4), pp.338-344.

Hutchins, S W & Lawrence, G & Blair, S & Jones, R 2012, 'Use of a three-curved rocker sole shoe modification to improve intermittent claudication calf pain; a pilot study.', Journal of Vascular Nursing, 30(1), pp.11-20.

Arazpour, M & Chitsazan, A & Hutchins, S W & Mousavi, M & Takamiani, E & Aminian, G & Ghomshe, F & Rahgozar, M & Bani, M 2012, 'Evaluation of a novel powered gait orthosis for walking by a spinal cord injury patient.', Prosthetics and Orthotics International, 36(2), pp.239-246.

Lee, W & Lee, C & Leung, A & Hutchins, S W 2012, 'Is it important to position the foot in a subtalar joint neutral position during non-weightbearing moulding for foot orthoses?', Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, Accepted (in press).

Arazpour, M & Chitsazan, A & Hutchins, S W & Ghomshe, F & Mousavi, M & Takamiani, E & Rahgozar, M & Rahgozar, M & Bani, M 2012, 'Evaluation of a novel powered hip orthosis for walking by a spinal cord injury patient: a single case study.', Prosthetics and Orthotics International, 36(1), pp.105-112.

Arazpour, M & Chitsazan, A & Hutchins, S W & Ghomshe, F & Mousavi, M & Takamiani, E & Aminian, G & Rahgozar, M & Bani, M 2012, 'Design and simulation of a new powered gait orthosis for paraplegic patients.', Prosthetics and Orthotics International, 36(1), pp.125-130.

Hutchins, S W & Miller, K & Stallard, J & Wollam, P & Smith, C 2011, 'Feasibility study for a controllable orthotic knee joint', Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 6(6), pp.536-545.

Kobayashi, T & Leung, A & Akazowa., Y & Naito, H & Tanaka, M & Hutchins, S W 2011, 'Diseño de un dispositivo automatizado para medir la rigidez en el plano sagital de una ortesis de tobillo y pie articulada. ', ORTOPROTESICA-AYUDAS , 71, pp.52-58.

Kobayashi, T & Leung, A & Hutchins, S W 2011, 'Design of a manual device to measure ankle joint stiffness and range of motion. ', Prosthetics and Orthotics International, 35(4), pp.478-481.

Mordani, M & Arazpour, M & Bani, M & Hutchins, S W & Zarezadeh, F & Zojodi, M & Bahramzideh, M 2011, 'Prosthetic rehabilitation of a patient with partial ear amputation using a self suspension technique. ', Prosthetics and Orthotics International, 35(4), pp.473-477.

Kobayashi, T & Leung, A & Akazawa, Y & Hutchins, S W 2011, 'Design of a stiffness-adjustable ankle-foot orthosis and its effect on ankle joint kinematics in patients with stroke', Gait and Posture, 33(4), pp.721-723.

Kobayashi, T & Aaron, L & Hutchins, S W 2011, 'Techniques to measure rigidity of ankle foot orthosis: A review', J Rehabil Res Dev, 48(5), pp.565-576.

Kobayashi, T & Leung, A & Hutchins, S W 2011, 'Correlations between knee extensor strength measured by a hand-held dynamometer and functional performance in patients with chronic stroke', Isokinetics and Exercise Science, 19(1), pp.33-37.

Kobayashi, T & Leung, A K & Akazawa, Y & Hutchins, S W 2011, 'Evaluating the contribution of a neural component of ankle joint resistive torque in patients with stroke using a manual device', Brain Injury, 25 (3), pp.307-314.

Kobayashi, T & Leung, A K & Hutchins, S W 2011, ''Design and effect of ankle-foot orthoses proposed to influence muscle tone: A review'', Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics, pp.52-57.

Kobayashi, T & Leung, A & Akazawa, Y & Tanaka, M & Hutchins, S W 2010, 'Quantitative measurement of spastic ankle joint stiffness using a manual device: A preliminary study',Journal of Biomechanics, 43(9), pp.1831-1834.

Kobayashi, T & Leung, A & Akazawa, Y & Naito, H & Tanaka, M & Hutchins, S W 2010, 'Design of an automatic device to measure sagittal plane flexibility of an articulated ankle-foot orthosis.', Prosthetics and Orthotics International, 34, pp.439-448.

Leung, A & Wong, A & Wong, E & Hutchins, S W 2009, 'The physiological cost index of walking with an isocentric reciprocating gait orthosis among patients with T12 - L1 spinal cord injury ',Prosthetics and Orthotics International , 31(1), pp.61-68.

Hutchins, S W & Bowker, P & Geary, N & Richards, J 2009, ''The biomechanics and clinical efficacy of footwear adapted with rocker profiles-Evidence in the literature '', The Foot, 19(3), pp.165-170.

Costa, N & Bezdicez, M & Brown, M & Gray, J & Caldwell, D & Hutchins, S W 2006, ' Joint motion control of a powered lower limb orthosis for rehabilitation. ', -International Journal of Automation and Computing , 3, pp.271-281.

Nester C & Hutchins S W & Bowker, P, 2001, 'Effect of foot orthoses on rearfoot complex kinematics during walking gait ', Foot & Ankle International, (22), pp133-139.

 Nester C & Hutchins S W & Bowker P, 2000, 'Shank Rotation: A Measure of Rearfoot Motion during Walking. ', Foot & Ankle International. 21(7), pp 578-583