OPCA 1045 - Contemporary Orthotic Theory and Fabrication II

Credits: 4
Hours/Week: Lecture 1 Lab 6
Course Description: This course builds on contemporary orthotic foundations with emphasis on upper-extremity and spinal orthoses. Course content includes interpreting orthotist instructions, determining fabrication criteria, and recognizing when complex decisions should be elevated. Topics include closures, straps, and padding that maximize device effectiveness and patient benefit. Lab work emphasizes safety and comprehensive treatment-plan completion and introduces orthosis adjustment, repair, maintenance, finishing, and verification for clinical fitting. Students must be able to perform physical tasks to complete course requirements.
Prerequisite(s): OPCA 1035 with a grade of C or higher or concurrently enrolled
Corequisite(s): None
Recommendation: Concurrently enrolled inOPCA 1010 , OPCA 1015 , OPCA 1025 , OPCA 1035

Major Content

Advanced orthotic practice
1. common professional competencies
2. advanced decision making
3. upper extremity orthoses
4. spinal orthoses
Closures/straps and pads
Control straps
Safety
Comprehensive fabrication and treatment plan completion
1. upper extremity project
2. spinal orthosis project
3. finish orthoses
4. device service
5. verify orthoses

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course, students will be able to:

demonstrate competencies common to all O&P disciplines.
demonstrate competencies of orthotic theory and practice.
recognize when a decision should be elevated.
identify various upper extremity orthoses.
identify various spinal orthoses.
determine fabrication criteria from orthotist instructions. (C.3.1)
identify various strapping and closure designs/functions for ankle-foot orthoses. (C.8.0, C.8.1, C.8.1.3.b.5)
identify properties of materials used in orthotic straps and closures. (C.1.5, B.2)
practice sound judgement regarding safety of self and others. (A.1.2)
demonstrate safe and appropriate use of tools. (C.1.7, C.4.0, C.4.1)
demonstrate safe and appropriate use of equipment. (C.1.7, C.4.0, C.4.1)
adhere to safety procedures and practices throughout the fabrication process. (A.1.2, C.4.0, C.4.1)
fabricate straps and closures for orthoses.
fabricate padding for orthoses.
create an upper extremity positive model.
finish lower extremity orthoses.
comprehensive fabrication of a thermoplastic lumbosacral orthosis (LSO) or thoracolumbosacral orthosis (TLSO) with bivalve (clamshell) opening.
demonstrate knowledge of serviceing orthoses.
verify orthoses.

Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC): Goals and Competencies

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