Named after Bill Miller, the founder and inventor of the Boston Brace, who had two great passions in his life – innovation and compassionate care for patients.
By reading these blog posts you will learn more about conditions including scoliosis, plagiocephaly, and lower limb and neuromuscular conditions, including technological advancements, treatment options, and how Boston Orthotics & Prosthetics is working to improve the lives of the people we serve. Bill's spirit lives on here.
When Hadley was born this past March, his mom Melaina Barry says his head was almost cone-shaped — a condition known as brachycephaly. “He spent quite a lot of time in the birth canal and was delivered with forceps as well, so his head was like a cone at the top.”
Plagiocephaly, or “flat-head syndrome,” is a relatively common condition characterized by a flat spot on the back or side of a baby’s head. Plagiocephaly can be caused when the baby’s head frequently rests in the same position on everyday surfaces such as a mattress or car seat, or it can even happen in the womb. It can develop in as little as one week and is present to some degree in nearly half of infants.
In photographs, Michelle Hak is standing tall. She has no movement in her ankles or any of her toes, but nevertheless, she’s mobile. For the first two years of her life, however, that was not the case.
Shortly after Bennett Hirsh was born she was diagnosed with plagiocephaly — flat head syndrome — commonly associated with torticollis. Babies with torticollis have a hard time turning their heads because of their tight neck muscles. When they lie down, they tend to keep their heads in the same position. Since the bones of the skull are soft and have not fused yet, this can cause flattening.
Shawn Koehler is a certified orthotist who specializes in lower limb orthortics at the Boston O&P clinics in Annapolis, Maryland and Fairfax, Virginia. In this Q&A, Shawn shares how he was introduced to the field of orthotics, how Boston O&P’s lower limb orthotics differ from those offered by other companies, and his goals for his career.
To say the words “cerebral palsy” in regards to my child was very difficult. For a long time, since my son Carter's diagnosis in 2016, I was not prepared to tell people my son had CP. Maybe it's because I was afraid of people judging him or not giving him enough of a chance. I wanted so badly to make sure he had the opportunity to fight all of his obstacles.
At 9 months old, Annemarie Rose Lowe Erato is already realizing her superpowers. She takes after her mother, Lindsay, who amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, underwent a relentless pursuit to find helmet therapy for her daughter’s plagiocephaly.
Mike Kitchen is a Certified Orthotist and Clinical Director of the Boston O&P in East Brunswick. In this Q&A, Mike shares how he was introduced to the O&P profession, how things have changed over the years, and how his expertise in computer aided design has helped him provide better care to scoliosis patients.