The American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists
35th Annual Meeting and Scientific Symposium 2009
March 4-7, 2009 - Atlanta, GA
Experience Exceptional O&P Education

In the fall of 2008, the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics convened a consensus conference on the management of children with Cerebral Palsy. Twenty-four participants from around the world, including orthotists, orthopedic surgeons, physiatrists, physical and occupational therapists and engineers, assembled for a literature based discussion on the medical management of CP. This session will review the two systematic literature reviews which were presented at the conference on the role of orthotics as well as other important aspects and findings of the meeting.

In 2008, the Northwestern University Prosthetics Research Laboratory (NUPRL) and Rehabilitation Engineering Research Program (RERP) were awarded the 5-year Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) for Prosthetics & Orthotics (P&O) from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). Collectively, the proposed research and development projects are intended to enhance the ability of prosthesis and orthosis users to perform activities of daily living and negotiate their daily environment safely and effectively, engage in their chosen employment/vocation, and improve their health through the safe and effective use of P&O devices. The NUPRL & RERP place a high priority on communication and collaboration with P&O practitioners, users and engineering researchers in order to identify and address clinically-relevant research and development problems. This presentation will provide an overview of the new RERC projects with an opportunity for discussion with attendees.