The British Association of Prosthetics and Orthotics

Education

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BAPO Tech and Trends Webinar – AposHealth -Clinical Outcomes of a Foot-Worn Non-Invasive Biomechanical Intervention (Apos) Compared to Traditional Physiotherapy in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain. A Randomised Clinical Trial

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a major public health concern that will continue to grow with the expected aging of the population.
 
This webinar will introduce the participants to Apos, a non-invasive foot-worn medical device for the management of chronic lower limb and lower back pain.

It will present the outcomes of a recently published randomised controlled trial (RCT) which investigated the outcomes of the home-based biomechanical intervention (Apos) compared to standard care in patients with chronic lower back pain. The study was conducted following 3 retrospective studies that suggested positive outcomes of the intervention on the proposed cohort.
 
This RCT investigated the clinical outcomes in 162 patients with Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP). Participants were randomised in a 2:1 ratio and assessed over a52-week period using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) as the primary outcome, alongside secondary measures including the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)and gait parameters.
 
The trial was approved by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine IRB committee (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03167671) and conducted in the United States.

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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.

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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.

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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

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

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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.

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BAPO Teatime Talk – Unified Approach to Footdrop

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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.

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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.

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BAPO Bitesize

Introducing BAPO Bitesize

Designed for the prosthetics and orthotics community, with relevance for colleagues across the wider multidisciplinary team.

BAPO Bitesize is the online, on demand education resource from the British Association of Prosthetics and Orthotics (BAPO), created to support learning across the prosthetics and orthotics community.

Built for busy professionals, BAPO Bitesize delivers concise, accessible learning that can be accessed anytime, anywhere. Each course supports continuing professional development (CPD) while helping you stay informed about current thinking, practical approaches, and best practice in prosthetics and orthotics.

Courses are developed and delivered by experts in the field and the wider multidisciplinary team, ensuring the content reflects real clinical experience, collaborative practice, and current professional knowledge.

Whether you are looking to refresh your knowledge, explore new topics, or build your CPD portfolio, BAPO Bitesize provides flexible learning that fits around your schedule.

Why BAPO Bitesize?

Flexible learning
Access short, focused modules online whenever it suits you.

Delivered by experts
Courses are developed and delivered by experienced professionals working in prosthetics and orthotics and across the wider multidisciplinary team.

Designed for the P&O community
Created for prosthetists and orthotists, technicians, support workers, and learners, with learning that is also relevant to colleagues across the wider MDT.

Support your CPD
Use BAPO Bitesize to maintain and evidence your continuing professional development.

Practical and relevant
Courses focus on real world practice, emerging ideas, and key professional topics.

BAPO Member Pricing

BAPO members receive discounted access to BAPO Bitesize learning:

£4.99 per module
£25 for a complete course (6 modules)

Non-Member Pricing

£9.99 per module
£55 for a complete course

Look for courses that are pre-approved by OETT at BAPO member prices.

Available BAPO Bitesize Courses

BAPO Bitesize offers a growing collection of short courses designed to support learning across prosthetics and orthotics practice.

Explore the available BAPO Bitesize courses and start learning today.

Go To BAPO Bitesize

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Enhanced Practice Mythbusting

🔍 Enhanced Practice: Clearing up the confusion

Swipe through the graphic to see a few myths busted about what Enhanced Practice really is in Prosthetics and Orthotics.

👀 Myth 1: It’s a job title
Reality: It’s a level of capability across the four pillars of practice. It’s about how you apply knowledge and skills every day.

📚 Myth 2: Off the job training means time away from clinic
Reality: Most learning happens in your usual patient facing role. What matters is how you evidence new behaviours.

🎓 Myth 3: The Salford PGCert is only for band 6, NHS or full-time staff
Reality: The course is open to NHS and private providers and part time applicants. Banding does not define access.

🌍 Myth 4: Enhanced Practice only applies in England
Reality: The apprenticeship route is England based, but the direct entry route is open to applicants from anywhere.

🚀 Why it matters
Enhanced Practice focuses on real world capability and can be a stepping stone toward Advanced Practice.

Enhanced Practice Mythbusting (1)Download

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First year learners at Strathclyde and Salford Universities receive BAPO goody bags

This week, first-year prosthetics and orthotics (P&O) students at the University of Salford and the University of Strathclyde received their BAPO “Welcome to the Profession” goody bags, marking an exciting start to their journey into the P&O community. 🦾📚

The packs are designed to introduce students to the profession early, providing useful tools, resources, and a sense of connection with the professional body from the outset. Students shared what they loved most:

University of Salford:
💬 “Having an awareness so early into my career is invaluable.”
💬 “Makes you feel more connected to the industry and a part of the community before you are qualified.”
💬 “Insight into the industry, connections, benefits, and a team of assistance.”

University of Strathclyde:
💬 “I love the useful tools like the tape measure and goniometer — they’ll be helpful in our patient assessments.”
💬 “The water bottle was a nice touch.”
💬 “The resources about mentorship and what is available through BAPO are really helpful.”

Receiving these packs helps students build confidence, develop practical skills, and feel part of the P&O professional community from day one.

BAPO is proud to support the next generation of prosthetists and orthotists as they embark on their learning journey. 💙