17th World Congress of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO)
5 to 8 October 2019
Leipzig/ Kobe, 4 November 2019
ISPO 17th World Congress a resounding success!
The 17th World Congress of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) was held in Kobe, Japan, from October 5 to 8, 2019. This successful international event drew more than 4,400 participants from around the world, provided a range of learning opportunities, brought together multidisciplinary experts to report their scientific innovations, and showcased global industry solutions to improve mobility and services for people who use prosthetic, orthotic, and other assistive technologies.
The ISPO World Congress 2019 in numbers
4,400 participants from 97 countries (63% Japanese participants)
154 exhibitors from 38 countries (including 35 organisations in the International Community Lounge)
24 Symposia
28 Instructional Courses
348 Free Papers
129 Posters
US ISPO Poster Presentation
The ISPO 17th World Congress was very successful. More than 4,400 participants from 97 countries came to Kobe in Japan to learn about the innovative possibilities of rehabilitation and assistive technology. In addition to the high-caliber scientific program, ISPO also brought numerous globally active societies and aid organisations together to discuss global assistive technology needs; including the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Red Cross Committee (IRCR) and Handicap International (HI). This makes the ISPO World Congress one of the most important international platforms for mutual exchange and cooperation, which underlines the importance of this event in the industry and for society. The success of the World Congress was also due to the tremendous support by the Japanese government, the Science Council of Japan, the Hyogo prefecture, and the city of Kobe whose representatives welcomed the attendees during the Opening Ceremony.
Inspirational Keynotes
The personal life experience of David Constantine presented in the Knud Jansen Lecture masterfully interwoven with the development of the Wheelchair sector and the role ISPO over 30 years was both a riveting and emotional experience for the audience that filled the World Hall. The audience responded with a standing ovation to express their appreciation. Desmond Tong delivered the IC2A Inspirational Lecture and also took the audience on his journey as he adapted to his life as an amputee and can now have great pleasure on focusing on his family, work and leisure pursuits. It was both a very informative and an emotionally charged Opening Ceremony that set the scene for the coming days, inspiring all for the four days of the congress and beyond.
Focus on Innovation
The industry’s innovative strength was clearly demonstrated in the two fully booked exhibition halls, where 154 exhibitors from 38 countries presented state-of-the-art prostheses, orthoses and many other assistive technologies for people with physical disabilities. A major highlight was the Robotics Exhibition with high-tech solutions. Particularly outstanding projects in the prosthetics and orthotics field were honored during the congress. The Forchheimer Prize went to Lis Sjoberg, Helen Lindner and Liselotte Hermansson for their paper “Long-term results of early myoelectric prosthesis fittings: A prospective case-control study.”
The “Coapt Engineering” project by Blair Lock, Levi Hargrove and Todd Kuiken received the Brian & Joyce Blatchford Team Prize for Innovation.
Viva la Mexico
The ISPO 18th World Congress will take place from 19 to 22 April 2021 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
About the ISPO World Congress
The ISPO World Congress takes place every two years in a different country and is held on different continents to reach a variety of markets. Special attention will be given to the respective host country’s national participants and neighboring regions. Recent congresses took place in Vancouver in 2007, Leipzig in 2010, Hyderabad in 2013, Lyon in 2015 and Cape Town in 2017.
Participant profiles vary from country to country.
About ISPO International: http://www.ispoint.org
The ISPO is a multidisciplinary organization that operates worldwide and aims to improve the quality of life for persons who may benefit from the rehabilitation practice of prosthetic, orthotic, mobility and assistive technology by:
Promoting multidisciplinary practice;
Facilitating professional education to provide quality care;
Promoting research and evidence-based practice;
Facilitating innovative and appropriate technology;
Fostering international collaboration and consensus;
Facilitating knowledge exchange.
Its members include prosthetists, orthotists, orthopaedic technicians, physicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, orthopaedic shoemakers, nurses, and engineers. Currently ISPO is represented by more than 3,500 individual members in over 100 countries all over the world. ISPO International is committed to a world in which all people have equal opportunities to fully participate in society.
Press contact:
Karoline Nöllgen
PR Manager for Medical Trade Fairs and Conventions
Leipziger Messe GmbH
Telephone: +49 (0)341 / 678 6524
Email: k.noellgen@leipziger-messe.de
http://www.leipziger-messe.de
ISPO 2019 online http://www.ispo-congress.com
Twitter: @ISPO_int
#ISPOcongress19
#ISPOcongress21
Interested in global rehabilitation and access to assistive technology? You should join ISPO today!
Elizabeth Mansfield, US ISPO Board chair
Clinical Education Concepts 