PESHAWAR: The College of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation hosted a practical session on “Advanced orthotics and its benefits for people with disabilities (PWDs)” organised by the Paraplegic Centre.

The aim of the event was to provide rehabilitation experts with awareness on the latest orthotic techniques to improve mobility for PWDs, said a press statement.

The workshop featured Shad Mohammad Khan, CEO of Frontier Medicals UAE and academician at Sharjah University, as the guest speaker. Orthotics specialist Shad Mohammad shared in-depth information on modern methods for enhancing artificial support devices with participants.

Other speakers included Dr Syed Mohammad Ilyas, CEO of the Paraplegic Centre; Dr Amir Zaib, Director of Rehabilitation and Dr Irfanullah, Director of IPMR at Khyber Medical University; who discussed updated progress on the use of artificial intelligence in improving paraplegics’ mobility through bionic hands, orthopaedic shoes, and exoskeleton technology.

The statement said that the workshop covered various medical topics, including measures for effective treatment and rehabilitation of lower body impairment and the use of walking and non-walking orthotic devices to assist PWDs in standing and walking. Participants also talked about the expanding job prospects in the orthotics industry in the Gulf nations, which presented a bright future for Pakistani professionals looking to get experience abroad.

Experts in physical rehabilitation from various institutions, along with students, attended the workshop and were awarded e-certificates. The event was a unique opportunity for local healthcare community, reinforcing the Paraplegic Centre’s commitment to raising standards in professional skills and patient care in the country.

Operating in Hayatabad since 1984, the Paraplegic Centre is the only facility in Pakistan devoted to the rehabilitation of people with spinal cord injuries. Free spinal cord injury therapy is offered, with a focus on economically disadvantaged populations in Pakistan and bordering Afghanistan who have been impacted by falls, homicides, traffic accidents, and other tragedies, the statement concluded.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2024