Prosthetics and Orthotics

This Biomechanics module will foster your skills in the calculation of forces applied during prosthetic and orthotic management and the effect if they are altered. This module introduces and then develops your knowledge and skills in human movement analysis through the use of the human movement laboratory and classroom sessions.

This module introduces you to clinical and workshop practice. You will be able to see professional patients and make and fit prosthetic and orthotic solutions, under careful supervision. This module focuses on a selection of common lower limb prosthetic and orthotic conditions, introducing you to concepts that will be important not only here but later in the course. 

This module helps you learn about the design of prostheses and orthoses, how they are made and the different materials that are commonly used to make them.

Prosthetists and orthotists provide a valuable service in health care, both nationally and internationally. This module builds on what you will have learned in the introduction to prosthetics and orthotics module, but focuses more on the importance of holistic treatment plans within the context of your role as a prosthetist or orthotist. You will also have the opportunity to gain experience via a placement in semester 2.

This module involves the study of key anatomical elements and physiological processes relevant to P&O clinical work. Students will also be introduced to conditions and pathologies relevant to Prosthetic and Orthotic practice.

You will engage in discussions on professionalism, effective communication codes of conduct, ethical issues, personal and social influences contributing to inequalities in health care. 

As a clinician you will naturally wish to examine the validity of how current treatment plans are progressed or perhaps you may wish to explore new and different orthotic and prosthetic solutions. This module is designed to acquaint you with research methods and motion analysis which may be applied to professional practice and the planning of your own research. It will help develop your critical awareness of research design, particularly when reading other research reports. This module will also enable you to apply the theory from the previous 'Biomechanics' module to pathological gait. It will provide you with hands-on experience of techniques used in biomechanical assessment and you will be introduced to methods of assessing gait in both clinical and research settings.

This is a clinical module where you will further your knowledge and clinical skills. This module will focus on the specific areas of transfemoral prosthetics, spinal orthotics and bespoke footwear.

This is a clinical module which includes the development of underpinning knowledge and clinical skills required for upper limb prosthetics, and orthotic rehabilitation around the ankle, knee and hip.

This module will further develop student’s knowledge of anatomy and physiological concepts alongside expanding their awareness of pathologies relevant to P&O practice. This will include the essential nature of disease, its causes and effects and the relationship with effective clinical P&O practice. 

Students will learn about complex cases, rare sites and new developments and innovations within P&O to enable them to undertake appropriate techniques and processes as part of the progressive application of clinical practice and expose students to further placement based learning.

This module explores the role of clinical governance in delivering high quality, efficient and effective service to meet the holistic needs of service users. The module will help you see beyond the immediate role of being a prosthetic or orthotic clinician. You will appreciate the role that Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies play and understand why quality and assurance mechanisms are fundamental to upholding the principals of best practice. You will gain crucial insights and exposure to the fundamental activity necessary for effective and robust clinical governance. That experience will prepare you for longer block placements in your third year and life as a graduate clinician.

Each student will complete a 13-week full-time placement in each discipline in year three, 13 weeks of full-time Orthotics placement and 13 weeks of full-time Prosthetics placement. During these final placements, you are expected to be able to consolidate your learning from all of your previous learning. You will be exposed to an ever-expanding variety of case studies where you will continue to further develop your clinical skills. You will develop a greater understanding of the rehabilitation process and, in particular, develop your skills in presenting and delivering viable management plans, using problem-solving skills to apply functional prescriptions. You will also be able to demonstrate your ability to competently execute the key clinical skills (casting, measurement, cast modification, prosthetic/orthotic fitting) necessary to fulfil the agreed prescription.

Prosthetic Clinical Placement (40 credits)

You will gain an expert knowledge of current clinical theory and technical aspects within Prosthetics. This placement will build upon and further complement the patient interactions that take place within University clinical modules where you will have been introduced to clinical assessment skills with our volunteer patients.  

Orthotic Clinical Placement (40 credits)

Y​ou will gain an expert knowledge of current clinical theory and technical aspects within orthotic practice.  This placement will build upon and further compliment the patient interactions that have taken place within University clinical modules where you will have been introduced to clinical assessment skills with our 'expert' patients and placement activities at level 4 and 5.

Initially this module will enable you to reflect on the broader issues affecting health and social care, with a particular focus on prosthetics and orthotics. The content of the module will continue to develop your appreciation of the importance of evidence based practice within the clinical environment. The module will then focus more exclusively on your chosen profession. You will receive assistance and advice in regard to preparing for and engaging in interviews. You will examine and analyse the role of professional organisations and client organisations. You will also learn how to deal with difficult clinical situations and how to interface most effectively with a wide spectrum of clients, and you will be introduced to different service models pertaining to prosthetic and orthotic clinical practice.

For this module you will conduct an in-depth evidence-based study on a topic of your choice. This will give you the opportunity to plan and execute your own work and explore the links between research and practice. In so doing you will be better equipped to enter into a clinical setting and investigate areas of interest in a clear and objective manner.