Survey of Physiotherapists to Clarify Orthosis Problems for Clinical Training

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify the orthosis issues which ought to be tackled in clinical training. [Participants and Methods] The participants were 118 physiotherapists at a single facility. The questionnaire asked about years of experience, experience of supervisor, team in charge, facility equipment of lower extremity orthoses, percentage of vocational schools giving instruction on lower extremity orthoses, knowledge and techniques that students lack, frequency of use of orthoses by physiotherapists, students’ frequency of observation and experience of lower extremity orthoses, causes of insufficient observation and experience, etc. [Results] More than 70% of students had observation and experience of orthoses less than once a week. The causes of insufficient observation and experience were lack of cases and lack of instruction at vocational schools. A few vocational schools gave instruction on lower extremity orthoses. [Conclusion] Vocational schools need to be specific about instruction regarding lower extremity orthoses.