Orthotists, prosthetists, patients and parents gathered for the 2016 Hanger Education Fair & National Meeting, where presenters led advanced training seminars and industry experts offered hands-on demonstrations.
Participants mingled among new technologies and clinical techniques, and shared ideas about how to make even newer concepts come to life.
But new technology was not the only thing on display.
Patients like Ezra Frech, transfemoral amputee, told his story, in which he overcame adversity — being born with just two fingers on his left and his left leg amputated above-the-knee — to achievements like winning nine national records in track and field or playing basketball better than his peers.
Beth Shaver shared how she was injured playing soccer. She now wears a limb salvage device and continues to succeed as an athlete. Josh Kennison, born a quadrilateral amputee, is now a world-champion sprinter and Jeremy Campbell, transtibial amputee, is now a three-time Paralympic gold medalist.
The event brought to life new ideas about O&P care, but also inspired new goals in the patients who wear the devices. According to the people O&P News spoke to, the experience that was second to none. – by Shawn M. Carter
Images: Carter SM, O&P News.
