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Organized Session

Lower Limb Orthosis Users: Health Profiles and the Relationships between Mobility, Pain Interference, Fall Risk, and Wellbeing

Thursday, February 19, 2026
1:45 PM - 3:15 PM CDT
Room: Volunteer Ballroom C

    Session Leader(s)

  • Emily Steffensen, PhD, CPO (she/her/hers)

    Clinician-Scientist
    Hanger Clinic, Hanger Institute for Clinical Research & Education
    Hanger Institute for Clinical Research & Education
    OMAHA, Nebraska, United States

    • Speaker(s)

  • Geoff Balkman, PhD, CPO

    Assistant Professor
    University of Washington
    University of Washington
    Seattle, Washington, United States

  • Phillip Stevens, PhD, CPO

    Vice President of Clinical Affairs
    Hanger Institute for Clinical Research and Education
    Dept of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; University of Utah Health
    Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

  • Emily Steffensen, PhD, CPO (she/her/hers)

    Clinician-Scientist
    Hanger Clinic, Hanger Institute for Clinical Research & Education
    Hanger Institute for Clinical Research & Education
    OMAHA, Nebraska, United States

Presenting with a diverse range of underlying diagnoses, lower limb orthosis users commonly rely on mechanical assistance for the lower limb. Recent analyses inform us of the health profile of these individuals relative to the general population and the interrelated constructs of mobility, pain interference, fall risk and wellbeing.

Learning Objectives:

  • Upon completion, participant will be able to describe health profiles of lower limb orthosis users as a cohort.
  • Upon completion, participant will be able to describe how pain interference is related to mobility in lower limb orthosis users.
  • Upon completion, participant will be able to describe fall risk and associated factors in lower limb orthosis users.