The American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists announces it will invest $210,000 in orthotic and prosthetic (O&P) research initiatives to help develop new protocols to enhance patient care standards.

After commissioning scoping reviews, the Academy has identified six key areas for funding priority and has announced the first initiatives, according to a media release.

The initiatives are: “Body Powered Versus Myoelectric Upper Extremity Prostheses” (discussed recently during a State-of-the-Science Conference held recently in Florida), and “Economics of Transtibial Prostheses” (to be discussed during an upcoming conference).

Additional initiatives are: “Outcome Measures for Persons Post-Stroke Who Utilize Orthoses” (to document the effect of ankle foot orthoses on stroke patients) and “Metabolic Expenditure on Transtibial Prosthetic Users.”

“The Academy is making a significant investment in the future of O&P clinical care,” declares Academy president Rick Miller, CO, FAAOP. “I am thrilled that we are taking a leading role in developing research opportunities across such a broad range of focus areas.”

[Source(s): American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists, PR Newswire]