An Approach for Guiding Orthotic and Prosthetic Education Program Transition to Client-centric Training

Christopher F. Hovorka, PhD, CPO, FAAOP

Program Advances in technology and changes in healthcare suggest a need to expand curricular content and training of future Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) clinicians in key areas such as client diagnostic assessment, formulation of a treatment plan, and systematic evidence-based practice competencies. Hence, a shift toward client-centric education is suggested as a potential solution in preparing O&P graduates for the future. Three educational frameworks can expand the O&P clinician's role from technical services to a more inclusive, client-centric model of healthcare without abandoning the hands-on skills for designing and building orthoses, prostheses, and footwear-devices that are still at the core of O&P practice. This presentation will describe the curricular training approach to achieve the objective. 

Effectiveness of the Amputee Coalition Peer Visitation Program: randomized Clinical Trial 

Jason T. Kahle, MSMS, CPO, LPO, FAAOP

The emotional adjustment to amputation can be a challenging aspect of reintegration. Peer visitation allows the patient going through rehabilitation and reintegration to speak directly with another amputee who has shared that similar experience, enabling the patient to relate feelings and concerns about the loss of a limb. There is increasing national interest in this type of patient-centric education. A wide variety of organizations, including hospitals and community- based facilities, are offering patient education and peer visitation programs. The Amputee Coalition has the only formal recognized Peer Visitation Program (PVP). While the AC PVP program is the only nationally recognized PVP program for amputees, it has not been tested for effectiveness. There are no known clinical trials regarding PVPs for people living with limb loss. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to demonstrate that a Peer Visitation Program (PVP) may improve functional outcomes in people with lower extremity amputees during amputation rehabilitation. The hypothesis was the AC PVP would improve all outcomes. 

The Footropter: A Simple Clinical Tool for Prosthetic Foot Prescription 

Harrison L. Bartlett, PhD

This works presents the design of a passive prosthetic foot emulator (the FootRopter) which features independently adjustable forefoot stiffness, hindfoot stiffness, and alignment. Such a device could be used in a clinic to cater the properties of a prosthetic foot to the needs of individual patients, enabling a personalized medicine approach to the prescription of prosthetic feet.

Changes in Mobility and Gait Quality for Veterans with Lower Limb Loss Who Completed the Dod/va Mobile Device Outcomes Based Rehabilitation Program: Pilot Study 

Yasir Y. Alsamdani, PT, MSPT

Mobile Device Outcomes Based Rehabilitation Program is a VA/DOD supported mobile rehabilitation program that includes a sensor system called the Rehabilitative Lower Limb Orthopedic Assistive Device (ReLOAD). The ReLOAD system can assess gait and provides real-time audio feedback during home walking to correct specific gait deviations and subsequently recommend targeted exercises. The study will provide an overview of the changes in mobility and gait quality for a group of Veterans with lower limb loss who completed MDORP.