Getting Started in Prosthetic-Orthotic Research

The authors discuss getting started in O&P research and provide examples for organizing research projects, including how to identify the basic problem to forming the hypothesis, testing the hypothesis and drawing statistically or clinically significant conclusions. Several common early errors in getting started with a project design are briefly discussed. Being concise, clear and significant are shown to be some of the most important factors in formulating a project. Constraints of time, funding and proper equipment to carry out research investigations should be considered but can be overcome and should not discourage the new researcher. Solving these logistical constraints is also discussed. The impact of O&P research is paramount to the future of our field with the waning physician interest in carrying out O&P projects.