The Orfit Academy is the premier training platform for therapists who want to improve their orthotic fabrication skills.
Enroll for free

We present the Orfit Academy, a virtual platform of multiple orthotic fabrication courses on all themes, covering all aspects of hand rehabilitation. The courses offer a detailed look at the anatomy, the various clinical diagnoses and conditions, multiple fabrication videos and orthotic designs, case studies, and evidence-based resources. 

Enroll today for free access to multiple courses offering new ideas guaranteed to inspire you to be the best clinician possible for your patients. 

Treat yourself to a relaxing adventure into our creative world of orthotic fabrication. 

View our courses

Your Teacher

Hi, my name is Debby Schwartz. I’m happy to guide you through these wonderful and creative approaches to orthotic fabrication. Watch for fun, watch to learn, and even watch to earn a certificate of continuing education, available at the end of each course by payment of a small fee and completion of the course exam.

– Debby Schwartz, OTD, OTR/L, CHT
debby.schwartz@orfit.com

Advantages of our Academy

Join for free

All courses can be followed free of cost. A certificate of continuing education credit is available after payment of a small fee and completion of a short exam.

Approved Provider Courses

Receive a certificate after successful completion of the course end exam. Orfit Industries America is an Approved Provider of AOTA Continuing Education.

An immediate impact on your work

Learning virtually from anywhere allows you and your team to factor the work into your already busy schedule and move at your own pace. Practice each orthotic design and immediately use your new skills in your day-to-day clinical practice.

Enjoy learning

Watch compelling video demonstrations of fabrication techniques, orthotic finishing suggestions, tips and tricks, and much more practical information. Interactive knowledge checks will make your learning experience successful and fun. 

Our Courses

This course provides an introduction on the use of low temperature thermoplastic materials for the fabrication of custom made orthoses. Thermoplastic materials are easily heated and activated in hot water of 160-165°F.  These materials have different degrees of stretch, rigidity, conformability and drape.

Remember to enroll in this course. Click here.

This course features orthotic management of Zone 1 Extensor Tendon injuries, including treatment protocol and wearing schedule, demonstrations of 5 different orthotic designs, and tips and tricks for easy orthotic fabrication and management. Recommendations for increasing patient compliance and supportive evidence are included.

Remember to enroll in this course. Click here.

The Thumb Opponens Orthoses is divided into two courses.

The Short Thumb Opponens course includes discussion of various clinical conditions that are managed by orthoses for the CMC and MCP joint of the thumb and includes demonstrations of three different orthotic designs, tips, and tricks for easy orthotic fabrication and management. the course takes one hour to complete.

The Long Thumb Opponens course includes discussion of various clinical conditions that are managed by orthoses for the wrist and thumb and includes the demonstration of four different orthotic designs, tips, and tricks for easy orthotic fabrication and management. The course takes two hours to complete.

Recommendations for increasing patient compliance and supportive evidence are included in both courses.

Click here to enroll in the Short Thumb Opponens course.

Click here to enroll in Long Thumb Opponens course.

 

This course features instruction in orthotic fabrication of wrist orthoses, including multiple designs for this most often fabricated orthosis. Clinical conditions which require a wrist orthosis are described. Fabrication of five different designs of wrist orthoses will further illustrate the steps involved in orthotic fabrication. Identifying the key anatomical landmarks on the patient’s extremity, preparing the material, and molding the orthosis will be highlighted. Evidence to support this unique orthosis and case studies are included.

Remember to enroll in this course. Click here.

 

This course discusses the benefits of using the relative motion orthosis for a variety of different clinical conditions. Tips and tricks for easy orthotic fabrication are featured along with wearing schedules and recommendations for increasing patient compliance. Evidence to support this unique orthosis and case studies are included.

Remember to enroll in this course. Click here.

 

This course features information on a variety of clinical conditions that affect the fingers and that can be treated with orthotic solutions. Instructions are provided for the management of central slip injuries, volar plate injuries, swan neck deformity, and PIP joint flexion contractures. This course offers important background information on anatomical concepts of these conditions and provides videos of orthotic fabrication techniques, along with a review of the evidence to support orthotic management. Case studies that highlight the implementation of orthoses into patient treatment are also included.

This course consists of two parts: Finger Orthoses Part 1 (1.5 hours), Part 2 (1.5 hours)

Click here to enroll in part 1.

Click here to enroll in part 2.

Hand based orthoses are very important therapeutic interventions prescribed for patients with injuries or clinical conditions of the hand, thumb, and fingers. These orthoses can be made to include several or all of the fingers and with or without the thumb depending on the specific diagnosis. This course focuses on radial and ulnar gutter orthoses which are typically used to protect the hand following metacarpal or proximal phalanx fractures. This course offers orthotic fabrication instructional videos for several orthotic designs, discusses tips and tricks for easy fabrication, provides recommendations for increasing patient compliance and highlights evidence based research to support these orthotic interventions.

Remember to enroll in this course. Click here.

Hand based orthoses are very important therapeutic interventions prescribed for patients with injuries or clinical conditions of the hand, thumb, and fingers. These orthoses can be made to include several or all of the fingers and with or without the thumb depending on the specific diagnosis. This course focuses on resting hand orthoses which are typically used for patients with arthritis, burns, and following procedures for Dupuytren’s contracture release. This course offers orthotic fabrication instructional videos for several orthotic designs, discusses tips and tricks for easy fabrication, provides recommendations for increasing patient compliance, and highlights evidence-based research to support these orthotic interventions. Part 2 will cover resting hand orthoses which are typically used for patients with arthritis, burns and following procedures for Dupuytren’s contracture release.

Remember to enroll in this course. Click here.

Orthoses can offer clients with peripheral nerve injuries immediate positioning support against deformity and also functional assistance. This course focuses on injuries and dysfunction of the median and ulnar nerves and offers instructional videos on orthotic fabrication; discusses tips and tricks with easy to follow steps for fabrication of a variety of options in orthotic design; provides recommendations for increasing patient compliance and provides evidence based literature to support these interventions.

Remember to enroll in this course. Click here.

Orthoses can offer clients with peripheral nerve injuries immediate positioning support against deformity and also functional assistance. This course focuses on injuries and dysfunction of the radial nerve and offers orthotic fabrication instructional videos for several orthotic designs, discusses tips and tricks for easy fabrication, provides recommendations for increasing patient compliance and highlights evidence based research to support these orthotic interventions.

Remember to enroll in this course. Click here.

This course provides an introduction to the use of low-temperature thermoplastic materials for the fabrication of quick and easy orthotic solutions to common sports injuries of the upper extremity. The course covers basic injuries to the fingers, thumb, wrist and wrist and thumb which can be managed quickly with a custom orthosis. Fabrication videos and instructions for every orthotic design are included.

Remember to enroll in this course. Click here.

This advanced course provides instruction in the fabrication process for making a dynamic or static progressive orthosis for a stiff proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint using Orfit’s innovative Isoforce outrigger. This outrigger is uniquely designed to help with the treatment of PIP joint flexion contractures. Our course offers an in-depth discussion of the benefits of this outrigger and provides orthotic fabrication instructions and guidelines for successful outcomes. We will discuss the benefits of this orthotic design and the recommended materials.

Remember to enroll in this course. Click here.

This informative course will provide instructions in the fabrication of static progressive orthoses as a treatment intervention for clients with stiff joints and /or contracted tissues in the hand and fingers. Static progressive orthoses incorporate non-elastic components to place tension on tight tissues in order to effect change in tissue length. Our course offers an in-depth discussion of the various types of mobilization orthoses and shares orthotic fabrication instructions for several different and creative orthotic designs. We also include suggestions and guidelines for successful outcomes.

Remember to enroll in this course. Click here.

This advanced course will provide instructions in the fabrication of dynamic orthoses as a treatment intervention for clients with specific post-operative protocols and/ or for functional assist orthoses. Dynamic orthoses incorporate elastic components and/ or wires and coils to place tension on tight tissues in order to effect change. Our course offers an in-depth discussion of the various types of mobilization orthoses and offers orthotic fabrication instructions for several different dynamic orthotic designs as well as guidelines for successful outcomes.

Remember to enroll in this course. Click here.

This advanced course will teach the fabrication process for making an anterior or posterior elbow immobilization orthosis. This course offers an in-depth discussion on the conditions that might benefit from an elbow immobilization orthosis, and we provide orthotic fabrication instructions and guidelines for successful outcomes. We discuss the benefits of various orthotic designs and the recommended materials.

Remember to enroll in this course. Click here.

This course covers orthotic fabrication of the dart thrower’s motion orthosis (for wrist injuries affecting the carpal bones) and the anti-ulnar drift orthosis for arthritic patients with ulnar drift of the fingers.  These are specific clinical conditions that benefit from custom orthotic intervention.  Fabrication videos and instructions for orthotic design are included.

Remember to enroll in this course. Click here.

This course is divided into two lessons. Lesson one covers the static progressive elbow extension orthosis with a turnbuckle. Lesson two covers the dynamic wrist mobilization orthosis.

You will receive valuable orthotic fabrication instructions and guidelines for successful outcomes.

Remember to enroll in this course. Click here.

This courses covers orthotic interventions for treatment of stiff PIP joints. The course provides a comprehensive tutorial for six orthotic designs, with background information, tips for pattern creation, and the step-by-step fabrication process.

  1. Hand-based PIP and DIP flexion orthosis
  2. Garden glove orthosis for composite flexion (MCP, PIP and DIP joints)
  3. Dynamic PIP extension orthosis with Isoforce
  4. Static progressive PIP extension orthosis with Isoforce
  5. Static progressive finger flexion cuff (PIP and DIP joints)
  6. Relative motion orthosis for exercise

Click here to enroll in this course.

This course features the forearm based resting hand orthosis. It includes five key learnings.

1. Recognize clinical conditions that might require the application of a Forearm Based Resting Hand Orthosis

2. The two most common positions used for the Forearm Based Resting Hand Orthoses

3. Special considerations for patients with burns, arthritis, abnormal tone, and many more considerations to include when treating specific conditions

4. How to fabricate and fit a Resting Hand Orthosis from Multifit NS (fabrication video included)

5. How to fabricate and fit a Contracture Management Orthosis in the volar/dorsal design from Orfit Eco Black NS (fabrication video included)

6. Wearing schedules, methods to improve patient adherence, and patient management tips

Check your knowledge throughout the courses with interactive knowledge checks that make learning fun and easy. 

Click here to enroll in this course.

In this course, we explore the various rehabilitation protocols for post-operative flexor tendon surgery and discuss the many advances both in surgical and therapeutic approaches.

What can you expect?

  • Various rehabilitation protocols
  • Demonstration videos on orthotic fabrication
  • Case studies
  • Latest evidence to support therapeutic approaches
  • Key questions you can discuss with the referring surgeon to give you a better understanding of your patient’s status

This course is purely for your enjoyment! We did not prepare an exam or certificate for this course.

Click here to enroll in this course.