In this episode of O&P Clinical Care Insiders: Industry Partners Edition, host Seth O'Brien, CP, FAAOP(D), is joined by Lucas Crisanti, CPO, an ABC-certified prosthetist/orthotist, Ottobock prosthetic clinical specialist, and global running clinic coach, to discuss the growing role of adaptive sports in prosthetic care. Drawing on his background as a competitive runner and years of experience supporting para athletes, Lucas shares how volunteering with adaptive sports programs shaped his passion for helping individuals with limb loss discover the physical and emotional benefits of running as exercise and medicine. The conversation explores Ottobock's role as the clinical partner and repair sponsor for major international competitions, including the 2023 Para Pan American Games and the 2024 Paris Paralympics, where clinicians provide on-site prosthetic repairs and technical support for athletes from around the world. Lucas also highlights Ottobock's sports prosthetics portfolio, discussing key component options designed for running and other athletic activities, along with the importance of matching technology to each athlete's goals. The episode concludes with an overview of Ottobock's educational opportunities for clinicians—including MyLearning courses, Athlete's Corner continuing education programs, Full Circle Movement community events, global Running Clinics, and upcoming opportunities leading toward the LA 2028 Paralympic Games—all designed to help more clinicians empower patients to pursue sport and physical activity at every level.

This episode is sponsored by Ottobock.

O&P Clinical Care Insiders: Industry Partners Edition is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, host Seth O’Brien, CP, FAAOP(D), is joined by Leigh Davis, MSPO, CPO, LPO, FAAOP(D), of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and Beate Flügel of Heidelberg University Hospital for a conversation about international collaboration, scoliosis management, and advancements in orthotic care.

Drawing on nearly a decade of partnership between the Academy and Germany’s OTWorld, the guests compare educational pathways, clinical practices, and professional development opportunities in the United States and Germany. They discuss Germany’s unique dual vocational training system for orthotists and prosthetists, as well as the similarities and differences between OTWorld and the Academy Annual Meeting.

The conversation also explores current approaches to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis bracing, including the use of Rigo-style braces, the importance of physiotherapy, and strategies for improving patient adherence. Davis and Flügel discuss the role of nighttime versus full-time bracing, the growing use of objective wear-time monitoring to measure compliance, and efforts to standardize digital workflows and advance 3D-printed scoliosis brace technology. Together, they highlight how international collaboration can drive innovation and improve outcomes for patients around the world.

This episode is sponsored by Spinal Technology.

O&P Clinical Care Insiders is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, recorded live at the 52nd Academy Annual Meeting in Nashville, host Seth O’Brien, CP, FAAOP(D), is joined by Kiley Armstrong, MS, MPO, CPO, research prosthetist/orthotist at Northwestern University, for a conversation on the role social determinants of health play in orthotic and prosthetic care. Armstrong shares her journey into a leadership role with a soccer organization for individuals with amputations before previewing her session, “Considering Social Determinants of Health to Elevate O&P Care and Outcomes.” The discussion explores how factors such as education, economic stability, social environment, neighborhood conditions, and access to healthcare can significantly influence patient outcomes, often extending beyond the clinical intervention itself. Armstrong highlights real-world barriers including transportation, childcare, and insurance challenges that can contribute to missed appointments and interrupted care, while emphasizing the importance of trust building, awareness of implicit bias, and open communication in the clinician-patient relationship. She also shares practical strategies for addressing disparities, including leveraging community resource tools, developing referral networks, and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams and clinic leadership to better support patients.

O&P Clinical Care Insiders is produced by Association Briefings.