The past couple weeks we learned all about the componentry of lower limb prosthetics! We were able to get our hands on all the components and put together our very own transtibial prosthetic leg. I realized how many different pieces and parts are individualized to the patient for their safety and comfort. It is incredible to see all the pieces and parts come together like a puzzle. Wednesday this week some of the SGA members took a field trip to Tallahassee, Florida to speak to legislators about O&P, what we do in our field, the curriculum at our school, and learned a lot about how the senate and House of Representatives works! It was truly an incredible experience. This week we see patient models and get to cast and fit our first transtibial patient! I am so excited and can’t wait to tell you all how it went next week!
I would like to introduce the new class at IIOP! There are nine of us starting the new year off with Brian, Candace, Jacob, John, Joseph, Rachel, Terrance, Zack, and I am Brooke, the blogger for our group. Some have traveled from Texas to Virginia to go to this school while a few of us are locals of Tampa and Orlando. We dove straight into classes with Neuroanatomy, Anatomy and Phys, Pathology, and Gait Analysis. We spend many hours studying and learning the anatomy and pathologies of the lower limbs. Dr. O has us presenting information from our books and journal articles to each other. When the books are put away, Tampa is being explored and our school is being represented at the bowling alley and roller-skating rink. Best wishes, Brooke Merryman
Introduction to Lab and materials was a great class loved getting into the hands-on part of our masters program! We received our white coats on Friday, January 21st which was an amazing experience. The ceremony not only excited me for the future as a CPO, but also my lifelong commitment in treating O&P patients! Now we are into our clinical evaluation tools class where we are learning and understanding the patient examination procedures to support clinical practical decisions. Check back next week!
Hope you all had a fantastic break, but we are back and ready for a fun semester!! We are starting our second semester in Intro to lab. The first week was full of labs which were all hands on. I love doing the hands on projects and seeing the finished product. Some of the projects we completed this week include bending metal, metal calipers, rivet tool, and a biomechanical tool. It is so satisfying to build your own project from start to finish using all the machines and tools. It just gives me excitement for the future for when we have our own patients and we will be making custom devices for them! This week definitely made me look forward to the upcoming weeks and diving into the O&P field the next couple semesters. I am so ready to learn all there is to learn about Orthotics and Prosthetics in this new year!! Let’s go 2022!
It has been a minute since I posted a blog! The semester is winding down and I have been busy with finals , SGA, and planning for the holidays. SGA helped with the senior symposium on Friday December 3rd which was a success. It was nice to hear the 4th semester students present their research topics and get some insight on some of the research areas I may be interested in for my future project. Additionally, I have been studying like crazy for my four finals only 2 left this week then we are on winter break! December 9th be sure not to miss out on graduation for the 4th semester students and congratulate them on their accomplishments over their 4 semesters at IIOP. Lastly, I am so excited to be able to see my family and friends for the holidays and I hope you all enjoy the holidays as well❤
It is me again, last week was a shorter week so I decided to combine it with this week!
It’s been a great two weeks with lectures in anatomy, Pathology, neuroanatomy, and gait lab. Last week in gait we learned about pathological gait deviations of the hip, knee and foot/ankle. Then, we practiced these deviations before we got tested on 2 of them. I loved learning each of the gait deviations and what phases of gait they affected. This week in gait we practiced outcome measures with a partner and competed for the best results! On Friday, we were provided a Thanksgiving lunch which was literally amazing and I am so thankful and appreciative for IIOP for having this lunch for all the students and faculty.
Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!
We are almost to Thanksgiving break so hang in there!
It was a pretty relaxing week after midterms which I was very grateful for! Throughout the week we worked on our anatomy presentations and pathology case study presentations. Other days we had lecture and learned all about the brachial plexus which is not the simplest of structures in the body, but our professors do a great job of incorporating fun activities and worksheets to help us better understand and learn the difficult structures of the body! Friday was a fun filled day of lecture and comparing gaits on the gait mat using different orthotic devices. Using the orthotic device that fit us best we analyzed our “normal gait” vs. our orthotic device gait. It was an eye opening experience to see what our patients one day will go through and be able to better understand and sympathize with them.
It has been a stressful couple weeks studying for midterms, but we have reached the light at the end of the tunnel! Midterms are over and it is almost Halloween! Hope you all have figured out your costumes and plans for the weekend and don’t forget to eat lots of candy!
Outside of our midterms Thursday some of the students participated in a cooking class with Chef Ami and let me tell you the lunch we had was delicious! (check out the pictures attached to this blog) Some things we learned were how to finely cut different vegetables and fruits which I can tell you I did not do correctly before this class. Overall, a very productive and successful week.
I hope all of you are doing well and enjoyed your week!
Congratulations team U.SA. woman’s wheelchair basketball for taking home the Bronze Metal at the 2020 Paralympic games!!!!!
Special Shout out to Our Student Adam Kramer Assistant Coach. We are honored to have you representing IIOP!!
http://wheelchairsportsfederation.com/
TeamUSA.org
Below an interview with Adam
Adam
Interviewer: “We would just need a few sentences about your experience”
Adam: The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games were an amazing opportunity. They used the tagline “United by Emotion” and it could not have felt more true. During such uncertain times, the opportunity to bring the world together, as safely as possible, and show that we can all be united was incredibly refreshing. Sport saved my life and I was lucky enough to share a common experience with thousands of other people in the same boat.
Interviewer: “Advice for anyone else that wants to get involved with a Paralympic team”
Adam: Find your passion and pursue it relentlessly. It will be a process.
If you want to compete, compile your resources and put your heart and soul into obtaining your goal. If you want to be on staff, begin by volunteering locally or with the NGB (National Governing Body) of your sport of choice. There are dozens of Paralympic sports, so if you can’t choose just one, contact the USOPC (United State Olympic and Paralympic Committee) to offer your expertise to them, in general, as a need arises. There is a certification process, so start early and be persistent.
Interviewer: “your role on the team”
Adam: I served as an Assistant Coach for Team USA’s Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team. My primary roles were subdivided into categories that prepared our team for competition. I worked with athletes on a weekly basis to ensure that they were balancing life on and off the court. I also performed data management and tracking processes to ensure that we were progressing as expected. Most notably, I scouted competition and managed practices to ensure that our athletes knew what to expect during each game.
Interviewer: “or anything else you want to say”
Adam: My experiences resulted in so many intangible benefits. I am truly lucky to have been a part of this team that allowed me to make many new friends from all over the country & world, while having the honor of representing my country. That is not to say that this occurred without sacrifice, but the rewards will outweigh the drawbacks if you’re committed to putting in the work.
Monday, we met Jim from ABC and he spoke to us about our career timeline. After Monday we spent the rest of the week in a different classroom because ABC testing and board exams, were happening in our normal classroom. I find it fascinating that the school I go to hosts the board exams! With that being said I am so excited for the future, yet love living in the moment and enjoying my classes and activities that I get to partake in now.
Wednesday a lot of the students and faculty participated in a CPR class where a lot of us were either recertified or got certified for the first time! The rest of the week was full of fun, interesting, knowledgeable presentations on Pathology and gait. Additionally, we reviewed clinical gait before our midterm coming this Friday by participating in games and activities where I realized how competitive our class really was. I really enjoy when our professors try to incorporate new activities each week to help us engage in the material and have fun while learning. All in all, a great week of learning and presenting! Hope you all enjoyed your weekend!
