Orthotics in China?

Orthotics in China?

Nerida Warren

1/11/2001

Greetings to everyone,

I am an othotist from Australia. I am currently living in the city of
Guangzhou, in southern China; my husband is teaching at a university here.

We have been here two months and I haven't seen any signs of orthoses in use
amongst the population. For example, I see people with drop-foot post-CVA
almost daily who I'd love to provide with an AFO. Not to mention the leg
length discrepancies, knee hyperextension, and numerous other interesting
gait characteristics, the cerebral palsy, polio and goodness knows what
else!

MY QUESTIONS ARE: DOES ANYBODY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE EXISTENCE OF THE
ORTHOTICS PROFESSION IN CHINA? ABOUT THE HEALTH SYSTEM IN GENERAL?

My employer at the university (I am teaching English part-time) made some
enquiries on my behalf, and took me this morning to visit the director of
the orthotics department at one of the hospitals indirectly affiliated
with the university. Difficulties in explaining orthotics to a lay-person,
not to mention the language barrier, resulted in me being taken on a tour of
a maxillo-facial and plastic surgery department! Interesting, but not quite
what I had in mind.

My resume is now being passed on to the CEO of the hospital, but I got the
impression this morning that orthotics is basically non-existent (at least
at this hospital).

ANY INFORMATION ANYONE HAS WOULD BE MOST WELCOME - I HAVE A HUNDRED AND ONE
QUESTIONS; PROBABLY MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS!

Thank you in advance,

Nerida Warren
Orthotist.
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