DOUG L. PINKLEY, LPO, CPO
Center for Prosthetics Orthotics
August 15th, 2007

Review of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics meeting in Vancouver BC.
Several highlights from the conference included a running clinic that was held on Consumer day, in which patients without running experience were taught techniques for running/jogging. This clinic was run by Robert Gailey, PhD, Pt. and also included a review of the biomechanics of amputee running, socket design for high activity participation, and component consideration. At the conference I also found new techniques for fabrication, including a new design for a energy return posterior leaf-spring AFO that I am already incorporating into my clinical practice.
The new technological advancements in P&O are also very interesting. For example, I thought the Proprio foot by Ossur was very cool. However, it is probably more suited to a functionally mid-range patient and not ideal for a very active patient, due to its lack of energy return. Farabloc products were also very exciting, due to a new fabrication technique using their products, designed to imbed their fabrics into the structure of the socket and help relieve phantom pain. I thought this was a very good alternative to the medi-pro liners which often experience frequent failure of the product. Also the Touch Bionics manufacturer of bionic hand/terminal devices was really impressive and shows the advanced direction that the field is headed, however may not be practical for clinical use yet.
Overall, I felt the ISPO World Congress was a very enlightening experience and a great opportunity to see the practice of Prosthetics and Orthotics from so many perspectives.