The British Association of Prosthetics and Orthotics

Archives for December 2025

by

BAPO – Teatime Talk – Cosmesis Counts: The Case for Aesthetic Design in Prosthetic Practice

Satisfaction with the aesthetic appearance of a prosthetic limb is an important factor associated with psychosocial adjustment following an amputation. This TeaTime talk will explore aesthetic design alternatives for upper and lower limb prostheses, drawing upon principles from product development to help us understand how specific product properties (design elements) can elicit different emotional responses from users.

We will also reflect upon recent work exploring the psychosocial impact of lower limb prosthetic design, ending the session with some reflection over factors that may influence an individual preferences.

by

BAPO Teatime Talk – Criteria for Success in New Patients with MPKs – A Service Evaluation

Microprocessor knees (MPKs) have been available on the NHS for established prosthetic users since April, 2017. Observations at our centre in an established cohort saw patients decreasing risk of falls and improving energy expenditure, alongside other physical and psychological benefits. This raised the question of whether MPKs should be considered for new post-amputation patients who also meet the NHS inclusion criteria (Clinical Commissioning Policy, 2016).

 

My poster aims to review one service’s experience with prescribing MPK’s to patients as their first prosthetic prescription to determine what selection criteria might ensure successful MPK use at 12 months.

by

BAPO Teatime Talk – Embedding Sustainable Practices into P&O

This session explores practical ways to embed sustainability into everyday prosthetics and orthotics (P&O) practice. It will highlight how clinicians, technicians, companies, support workers and services can reduce environmental impact through smarter material choices, waste reduction, recycling initiatives, and greener clinical processes—all while maintaining high-quality patient care. Drawing from ongoing work within the NHS and BAPO’s sustainability plan, the talk will share real examples, lessons learned, and opportunities for collective action across the profession. Attendees will leave with practical ideas and inspiration to integrate sustainability into their own clinical and organisational settings

by

BAPO Teatime Talk – Progressing Practice-based learning as the future of our profession

Details

Join us for an interactive Teatime Talk where we will discuss practice-based learning (PrBL), and how learning opportunities develop the future of our profession.

 

This engaging session is aimed at all members of the prosthetic and orthotic workforce. If you are just starting your career, have years of clinical experience or are somewhere in between, we want to hear your views and ideas. We encourage participation in discussion for an “All teach, all learn” approach.

We will explore and discuss how practice-based learning can drive innovation and strengthen the future Prosthetics and Orthotics workforce.

by

BAPO Teatime Talk – Unified Approach to Footdrop

Details

Physiotherapists and Orthotists share a clinical commitment to the management of footdrop. However, there is often a bias in their respective approaches. Physiotherapists are often more focused on the swing phase and achieving toe clearance. This is reflected in their use of Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES). Orthotists appear to Physiotherapists to be more focused on stance and this is reflected in their (perceived) preference for AFOs. This Teamtime talk scopes out how the two disciplines can work more collaboratively to achieve better clinical outcomes.

by

Tech and Trends Webinar – Powering Movement: How SpryStep Agilik transforms Mobility

Details
Introducing SpryStep® Agilik™ – an innovative, microprocessor powered KAFO, featuring a composite design strut. We will examine how this new technology can positively influence stance phase stability and provide powered assistance during the swing phase. Interested on how this can influence patient outcomes, we will examine potential patient groups and show some examples of patient case studies to better examine this exciting new technology.
 
During this session, we will:
– Introduce the Bionic Power and Thuasne® collaboration.
– Provide a brief overview of the evolution of orthotic solutions for patients with significant neuromuscular deficits.
– Explore the Agilik™ Technology- what is it and how does it work?
– Explain how Thuasne®’s composite materials knowledge and Agilik™ can be used to optimise biomechanical principles.
– Discuss outcome measures and potential long-term benefit of using the Agilik™.
– Review some case studies and the outcomes of the SpryStep® Agilik™ on patients with neuromuscular weakness.

by

Urgent letter to the Secretary of State

The British Association of Prosthetics and Orthotics (BAPO) have written to the Secretary of State to raise serious concerns about the potential closure of the Prosthetics & Orthotics apprenticeship programmes at the University of Derby. Losing this vital training route would remove a third of the countrys’s pipeline and put the future of our already fragile workforce at risk — affecting prosthetists, orthotists, technicians, and ultimately the millions of people who rely on these life-changing services. In our letter, we’ve asked for urgent clarity from NHS England and the Government on:

• Delayed apprenticeship funding

• Undelivered employer support

• The stalled work on small & vulnerable professions

• The lack of a clear commissioning pathway for P&O services

The consequences of inaction are real and human: reduced independence, poorer health outcomes, and increased pressures on already stretched services. BAPO is calling for immediate steps to protect training, stabilise the workforce, and safeguard the future of prosthetic and orthotic care across the country. We will continue to advocate on behalf of our profession and the people we serve.

Letter to the Secretary of StateDownload