The 1st International Balkan Prosthetics-Orthotics Symposium, organized in cooperation with Trakya University Faculty of Health Sciences and Turkish Prosthetics-Orthotics Science Association, was held at Trakya University Balkan Congress Center between 18-19 October 2019. Rector of Trakya University Prof. Dr. Erhan Tabakoğlu, Deputy Governor of Edirne Mehmet Polat, Dean of Trakya University Faculty of Health Sciences Prof. Dr. Sedat Üstündağ, President of Turkish Prosthetics-Orthotics Science Association Prof. Dr. Fatih Erbahçeci made the opening speeches of the symposium. The symposium brought doctors, physiotherapists, PO technicians, associate prosthetists-orthotist, professional prosthetists-orthotist, engineers, and related professional professionals, as well as students from physiotherapy-rehabilitation and prosthetics-orthotics schools together.
Governor of Edirne Ekrem Canalp made a visit prior to the “1. International Balkan Prosthetics-Orthotics Symposium” and met with Rector Prof. Dr. Erhan Tabakoğlu and Turkish Prosthetics-Orthotics Science Association President Prof. Dr. Fatih Erbahçeci. Governor Ekrem Canalp wished for a successful symposium to be held in Edirne, which is Turkey’s gateway to the Balkans. In the symposium, 7 invited international speakers from Balkan countries, who have important studies in their field, took part. The symposium also marked the distinction of being an “Environmentally Friendly Symposium” with tote bags, seed pens, recycled products, electronic poster presentations, sapling donations, and e-participation documents. Electrotactile feedback controlled hand prostheses, optimization-based approaches for effective robotic control in rehabilitation exercises, sports-specific prostheses, mobile ocular, and maxillofacial prostheses, three-dimensional technologies in orthotic and prosthetic applications, future applications in microprocessor hand prosthetics, hand injuries and rehabilitation, cerebral palsy, gait disorders, and orthoses, current surgical approaches in scoliosis, clinical evaluation in scoliosis, exercise, and rehabilitation in scoliosis, current orthotic approaches in scoliosis and prosthetic-orthotic applications in the Balkan Countries was discussed in the symposium.
The workshops on Ottobock “Agilium”, the application of Seal-in X5 Liner in above-knee amputees, technological foot analysis and insoles design, and orthosis application in osteoarthritis, which were carried out to improve professional practices, attracted great attention. In the symposium; A total of 32 studies, 28 oral presentations, and 4 posters, were included in the areas of prosthetic orthotic applications, biomechanical principles, and rehabilitation. We believe that the International 1. Balkan Prosthetics-Orthotics Symposium brings together the rehabilitation team working in the field of prosthetics-orthotics, strengthens scientific sharing and social cooperation, and is beneficial in terms of improving cooperation, communication, and information exchange between professionals working in the field of prosthetics orthotics and companies providing services in this field. We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the organization of the symposium, and all valuable participants and companies that strenghtened our symposium by opening stands.
Regards,
Prof. Dr. Fatih ERBAHCECI
President of Turkish Prosthetics-Orthotics Science Association