Session outline
Universal orthotics are widely used in the daily therapy training for stroke patients with gait dysfunction in the inpatient rehab, however, pain and skin problems resulting from the poor fitting braces hinder effective gait training and potentially lead to the hospital acquired injures. The first phase of our pilot study demonstrated the prevalence of problems associated with non-custom braces and low satisfaction from the therapy team. 3D printing is a disruptive technology that can simplify and expedite the development of custom devices, but it remains sparsely used in the clinical setting with little training for physiatrists. Despite recent advancements in utilization of 3D printing technology in the orthotics field, the clinical application of its usage has been lacking. We will share our first-hand experience from 3D scanning, development of digital brace models, material selection and printing techniques in the manufacture of low-cost custom-made foot orthoses and the exploration of its implementation in an inpatient rehabilitation unit. We provide real-world data to shed light on the potential of this technology to improve quality of care by delivering personalized medicine.
Learning outcomes
The audience will have the opportunity to:
- Learn the latest evidence-based research on 3D printing and its application in the rehabilitation setting
- Obtain first-hand insights into how to take a 3D printing project from abstract to reality
- See the technology (software, hardware) used to create orthotics using 3D printing as well as the final products
- Better understand and appreciate the potential of 3D printing technology to improve patients care and deliver precision medicine
Target audience
- Allied health
- Medical practitioners
- Students
- Trainees
- Nursing staff
- General publicÂ
