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What is the society’s main goal?
ISPO is a multidisciplinary organization comprised of persons who have a professional interest in the clinical, educational and research aspects of prosthetics, orthotics, rehabilitation engineering and related topics. ISPO presently has approximately 3000 members worldwide in more than 80 countries. National member societies have been established in 51 countries. ISPO serves as an impartial, non-political coordinating, correlating and advisory body. ISPO's goal is to provide educational guidance through international co-operation, thereby assisting professions, agencies and nations in improving their effectiveness so that the highest possible standard of prosthetic, orthotic, and rehabilitation care can be provided worldwide.
Within education, the role of ISPO is to facilitate and enhance the educational efforts of all health care disciplines involved in prosthetics and orthotics throughout the world. Information exchange and dissemination is achieved through World Congresses, Instructional courses, conferences, and publications.
ISPO provides, upon request, consultation and expertise to areas where the need for development of prosthetic and orthotic services has been identified. ISPO organizes teams of volunteers, appraises and recognize schools and facilities, and helps develop clinical programs.
ISPO is involved with compiling and reviewing standards which govern the practice of the professions concerned with prosthetic and orthotic care throughout the world. Guidelines are established through educational symposia, curriculum updating, material and product evaluation, classification, as well as conferences. ISPO facilitates and encourages research, which will improve the quality of products and services provided to persons in need. Support is given to recent developments, such as Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM), Optical shape sensing, Socket design, and Locomotion Studies.
Is there a personal story behind the establishment of the society?
ISPO was founded in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1970 by a group of surgeons, prosthetists-orthotists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and engineers to promote improvements in the care of all persons with neuromuscular and skeletal impairments.
Why did your society decided to take part in the RehabWeek?
ISPO was approached by Veysel to see if we would be interested in joining RehabWeek 2019. After obtaining more information, our board is excited to be a part of this unique experience.
Why is RehabWeek unique and why should people attend?
Attendance at RehabWeek 2019 will fulfill the curiosity of all attendees, because they will have access to many different sources of information in one place! We hope that members of ISPO can gain knowledge and develop relationships with members of the other societies.
What do you think will be the next big topic in the field? Why?
An ongoing issue within prosthetics and orthotics is patient access to gold standard care and new technologies, such as microprocessors and 3-D printed devices.
