By MEGHAN HOLOHAN
Patient-Centric
PROBLEM SOLVING O&P consumers inspire innovative products developed by 2018 AOPA National Assembly keynotes Tobie Hatfield and Sarah Reinertsen
NEED TO KNOW Many O&P consumers have an intimate understanding of their individual prosthetic or orthotic needs. Recent O&P innovations have come to market as a direct result of O&P users developing their own componentry for specific and targeted purposes.
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AUGUST 2018 | O&P ALMANAC
Tobie Hatfield, director of innovation for Nike, worked closely with Sarah Reinertsen, an above-knee amputee and competitive runner, in developing soles
for use with prosthetic feet as well as specialized shoes designed for easier donning and doffing. Both Schultz and Hatfield will be sharing their stories as O&P innovators during the AOPA National Assembly in Vancouver next month.
PHOTO: Nike
While many consumerdriven products are developed specifically for competitive use by amputee athletes, these products may cross over into the mainstream market.
“Monster” Mike Schultz, a competitive snocross athlete who became an above-knee amputee after a racing accident, invented his own prosthetic knee to use in snocross and motocross activities, eventually starting his own company to market the knee and other products.