A firm that has been making corsets for 70 years and which is now a world-beating medical device company is finding new ways to help children with curved spines thanks to a grant from Erewash Borough Council.
The Long Eaton-based manufacturer, Medigarments, is a pioneer in orthopaedic textile garments for treating conditions including cerebral palsy, stroke and multiple sclerosis.
The company realised its decades of experience could help youngsters suffering from the spinal condition neuromuscular scoliosis so it applied to the council for a research and development grant.
It was awarded £18,857 of funding – and two years on its work has been saluted at a major conference in Madrid. The accolade came after the firm revealed details of case studies to specialist neurologists, physios and orthotists.
The presentation came top out of 154 that were put before the Spanish Congress of Orthopaedics. Proud Colleen Ward, who is the company’s managing director, said: “To be awarded first place was a great result.”
Her firm’s products are used in the NHS as well as being exported. The company is the biggest British company in its field.
It declares on its website: “From our roots producing traditional corsetry in the 1950s to complex structural medical garments today, we are proud to say that 100% of our garments are still made in the UK.” The company adds: “We are also one of only a handful of companies still producing made-to-measure boned corsets.”
Around one in 20 people in the UK has scoliosis – although for most the condition is so mild it goes undetected.
The company has pioneered the use of state-of-the-art fabrics in its products, and also makes bespoke items for burn patients who need what is called “dynamic compression” treatment to reduce scarring.
The made-to-measure garments are designed to be worn for as long as 23 hours a day and are used for all kinds of trauma injuries.
The R&D grants on offer at Erewash Borough Council are funded by money from the Government. Details can be found here.
Councillor Curtis Howard, Lead Member for Town Centres, Regeneration and Planning at Erewash Borough Council, said: “The grants boost our mission to support local businesses, entrepreneurship and jobs. While many people will not have heard of Medigarments it is a great example of the kind of innovative company that Erewash is home to.”
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