The second ISPO Congress Technical Track is inviting prosthetic and orthotic technicians, clinicians, educators and workshop professionals to submit abstracts for presentation in Bangkok, with the submission deadline set for Monday, 29 June.
The call is aimed at professionals who have a practical workshop technique, fabrication method, modification tip or manufacturing process that could help technical peers improve daily practice.
The invitation asks: “Do you have a technique that makes you manufacture easier that you would like to present to your Technical Peers?” It also encourages first-time presenters, reminding professionals that everyone has to start somewhere and that the Technical Track provides access to a full P&O workshop for practical presentations.
For BharatCPO readers, this is an important opportunity. India has a large and highly skilled technical workforce in prosthetics and orthotics, but technician-led knowledge is still underrepresented at international platforms. The ISPO Technical Track offers a chance for Indian professionals to present practical skills, workshop innovations and locally developed solutions to a global audience.
Why the Technical Track Matters for India
India’s prosthetic and orthotic sector depends heavily on skilled technicians. They are central to device fabrication, repair, finishing, alignment support, thermoplastic forming, lamination, socket preparation, orthotic modification and footwear adaptation.
In many Indian rehabilitation centres, government hospitals, NGOs, private clinics and educational institutes, technicians are the people who turn clinical prescriptions into functional devices. Their decisions directly affect fit, durability, comfort, cosmetic finish and patient acceptance.
However, technical knowledge is often passed informally from senior technicians to juniors inside workshops. While this tradition is valuable, it also means that many good ideas remain local and undocumented. The ISPO Technical Track provides a structured platform for this knowledge to be shared, demonstrated and discussed with peers.
A Platform for Practical Workshop Knowledge
The Technical Track is especially relevant because it focuses on methods that make manufacturing easier. This could include techniques related to:
- Prosthetic socket fabrication.
- Orthotic casting and rectification.
- AFO, KAFO and spinal orthosis fabrication.
- Thermoplastic forming and finishing.
- Lamination and reinforcement methods.
- Foot orthotic and footwear modification.
- Alignment preparation and bench setup.
- Paediatric orthotic solutions.
- Cosmetic finishing.
- Repair and maintenance techniques.
- Low-cost fabrication strategies.
- Workshop workflow and quality control.
- Hybrid manual and digital fabrication methods.
For Indian technicians, these areas are highly relevant. Many workshops manage high patient volumes, limited budgets, mixed material availability and the need for durable, repairable devices. Practical improvements in fabrication can have a direct impact on patient outcomes and service efficiency.
Indian Workshop Innovation Deserves Global Visibility
India has a long tradition of practical, low-cost and high-volume rehabilitation service delivery. From charitable limb-fitting camps to specialist P&O colleges, government rehabilitation centres and private O&P workshops, Indian professionals have developed many approaches suited to local clinical realities.
These include efficient plaster modification methods, low-cost orthotic designs, socket finishing techniques, footwear adaptation, paediatric bracing solutions, diabetic foot offloading, polypropylene orthoses, modular prosthetic assembly and practical repair systems.
The global O&P community can learn from these experiences. A technique developed in an Indian workshop may be useful for colleagues in Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and other low- and middle-income settings.
The Technical Track gives Indian technicians a chance to show that innovation is not limited to high-cost technology. It also happens at the bench, through problem-solving, material knowledge and patient-centred craftsmanship.
Encouraging First-Time Presenters
One of the strongest parts of the call is its encouragement of first-time presenters.
Many skilled technicians may hesitate to submit because they have not presented at an international event before. Others may feel that their technique is too simple or too local. But the value of the Technical Track lies precisely in practical knowledge.
A strong technical presentation does not need to be complicated. It should clearly explain:
- The workshop problem being addressed.
- Why the usual method was difficult or inefficient.
- What technique was developed.
- Which tools and materials were used.
- How the technique is performed.
- What benefits were observed.
- What limitations or safety points should be considered.
- How other technicians can reproduce the method.
For Indian P&O colleges and training centres, this is also a useful opportunity to encourage students, junior technicians and faculty to document practical work more formally.
Preserving Manual Skills in a Digital Era
The call for Technical Track abstracts comes at a time when prosthetics and orthotics are rapidly adopting digital technologies such as scanning, CAD/CAM, milling and 3D printing.
These tools are important, and India’s O&P sector is increasingly exploring digital workflows. However, digital technology does not remove the need for manual skill. Technicians still need to understand anatomy, biomechanics, trim lines, pressure relief, alignment, material behaviour, finishing, repair and patient comfort.
A digitally designed device still has to be fitted, adjusted, checked and accepted by the user. A 3D-printed orthosis still needs clinical judgement. A scanned socket still depends on accurate capture and modification.
This is why the Technical Track matters. It can help preserve and modernise practical technical skills while also creating space for hybrid approaches that combine manual craftsmanship with digital fabrication.
Why Indian P&O Institutions Should Support Submissions
Indian P&O colleges, rehabilitation universities and professional networks should actively encourage participation in the Technical Track. Supporting technician and student submissions can help strengthen India’s professional presence internationally.
Institutions could help by:
- Identifying strong workshop techniques.
- Helping technicians write abstracts.
- Supporting video or photo documentation.
- Encouraging faculty-technician collaboration.
- Linking student projects to practical fabrication problems.
- Supporting travel or presentation preparation where possible.
- Promoting Indian technical innovation through professional networks.
This is also an opportunity to strengthen the status of technicians within the O&P profession. Their skills are essential to service quality and should be visible in national and international conversations.
Possible Abstract Topics From Indian Workshops
Indian technicians and educators could consider submitting practical abstracts on topics such as:
- Low-cost AFO fabrication techniques.
- Efficient plaster rectification for lower-limb orthoses.
- Paediatric orthotic modifications for improved compliance.
- Diabetic insole and footwear modification methods.
- Socket modification techniques for transtibial prostheses.
- Bench alignment tips for lower-limb prostheses.
- Laminated socket reinforcement methods.
- Thermoplastic finishing techniques.
- Workshop methods to reduce material waste.
- Repair strategies for commonly used prosthetic components.
- Orthotic footwear adaptations for rural users.
- Hybrid scanning and manual modification workflows.
- Quality-control checks before device delivery.
- Training methods for junior technicians.
The best submissions will focus on practical value, reproducibility and patient impact.
Bangkok as an Accessible Regional Platform
Bangkok is a practical location for many Indian professionals. It is relatively accessible from major Indian cities and provides a regional platform for exchange with colleagues from Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and beyond.
For Indian technicians, this could be a meaningful opportunity not only to present, but also to learn from other workshop teams, observe different approaches and bring back ideas that can improve local practice.
A Call to Indian P&O Technicians
BharatCPO encourages Indian prosthetic and orthotic technicians, workshop managers, educators and students to consider submitting abstracts before the 29 June deadline.
India has deep technical expertise in O&P. Much of it deserves wider recognition. A simple, reliable, low-cost technique developed in an Indian workshop may be exactly the kind of knowledge another technician needs.
The Technical Track is not only for experienced speakers. It is for professionals who solve real manufacturing problems and are willing to share what they have learned.
Conclusion
The second ISPO Congress Technical Track offers an important platform for technician-led learning in prosthetics and orthotics. For India, it is a chance to showcase practical workshop skills, low-cost innovation, fabrication knowledge and the creativity of Indian P&O professionals.
As the sector moves toward digital tools and advanced technologies, manual and workshop skills remain essential. The best future for O&P will combine clinical knowledge, technical craftsmanship and appropriate technology.
With the abstract deadline set for Monday, 29 June, Indian technicians and educators should not miss the opportunity to contribute.
- ISPO International
- ISPO Congress Technical Track submission link
- ISPO – Prosthetics, Orthotics and Assistive Technology
- Rehabilitation Council of India
- WHO – Rehabilitation
- WHO – Assistive Technology