Dominic Atta is Principal Orthotist at Blatchford, a leading provider of advanced prosthetic and orthotic devices, where he specialises in complex lower limb presentations.
His career started in game design, and as a student at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Domnic helped to create therapeutic games to support children with Autism. This experience planted the seed that would see him shift his focus towards helping individuals with disabilities and diverse needs.
After a stint in visual effects, Dominic embarked on a journey in prosthetics and orthotics, starting his Bachelor of Applied Science and a Masters in Clinical Prosthetics and Orthotics at LaTrobe University in Melbourne, Australia, graduating in 2018.
Following graduation, Dominic secured a role as a Senior Orthotist at Steeper. There, he played a pivotal role in the Best Practice Group, supporting the development of evidence-based treatment guidelines and imparting knowledge on spinal fracture management to acute care teams. He also trained physiotherapists in the use of Orthotics in Neuro Rehabilitation and paediatric settings.
OPN: What drove you to choose a career in medical research and clinical prosthetics and orthotics in particular?
DA: I chose prosthetics and orthotics after trying my hand at a few other careers and jobs, from computer game design to teaching, and even selling potatoes. Prosthetics and orthotics ticked all the boxes for me: it’s meaningful and positive work, it’s hands-on, I get to work with people, and no two days are ever the same. My career is not in medical research – I’m a clinician, and my day-to-day work is focused on seeing and treating patients. Professional research is new to me and it’s an exciting change of pace, however my primary role in our research project is still as a clinician.
OPN: You have recently been involved in a pilot study looking at Tectus, a microprocessor knee-ankle-foot orthosis (MPKAFO) designed to help people with partial lower limb paralysis regain their mobility. Could you tell us more about the findings?
DA: The findings are still coming in, but what we have so far is very promising. Using gait analysis, walking tests and a quality of life assessment (EQ-5D-5L instrument) we’ve seen participants report a 42% improvement in mobility and a 40% improvement in health-related quality of life compared to their previous orthotic devices. Plus, testing also showed a 20% improvement in walking and stepping ability, with users experiencing greater stamina, increased speed, and reduced pain.
The study will continue into early next year, and we’re also tracking mental wellbeing and kinematic data. So far all participants are much happier in their Tectus and able to perform tasks that previously were not possible, such as descending stairs step over step. Switching from a locked knee-ankle-foot-orthosis (KAFO) to a microprocessor KAFO (MPKAFO) like Tectus – which can bend under control – can be a huge adjustment for some. One participant, who has lived with Polio and used a locked KAFO for 40 years, went from fear to trepidation to excitement. Witnessing that transformation was fantastic.
OPN: What could your findings mean to help support orthotics wearers and what will be the effect on patient experience and their mobility?
DA: Our hope is that our findings will pave the way for improved funding for microprocessor orthoses, much like the progress made with prosthetic knees. The impact on patient experience and mobility could be substantial, as these devices allow for a much greater degree of movement, improved safety, and increased comfort, ultimately improving quality of life and facilitating meaningful activity for potentially thousands of people with lower-limb paralysis. We’ve seen this first-hand in our pilot, with one participant crediting Tectus for restoring a level of mobility she had not experienced in 25 years – helping her return to full time work and end her reliance on strong painkillers.
OPN: Do you have any more research in the pipeline?
DA: Not personally. Right now, I’m focussed on my clinical work which is split between our private clinic and the NHS. As a company though, Blatchford is always researching and developing- with an exciting technology roadmap planned for 2025/26. Pursuing a PhD is a common thought, but I’m yet to be able to narrow down my desired area of research.
OPN: How does the future look in the treatment of lower limb injury?
DA: From an orthotic perspective, the future is bright. I think the next few decades will see exponential improvements. The shift to digital pipelines won’t take long, with scanning, design, and 3D printing becoming the norm. It already is in many places, but I expect to see it more in the NHS. Improvements for printed materials will continue, as the ability and access to print a wider range of polymers, metals, and carbon fibre improves. AI will undoubtedly play a growing role, helping clinicians refine prescriptions and material designs in ways that aren’t feasible in a regular clinical setting – using kinematic and kinetic data to model the effects of different orthotic designs, reduce waste and improve outcomes, Microprocessor joints should become more widespread, offering greater functionality, and exoskeletons are likely to become more compatible with everyday life.
While those advances are exciting, I also think one of the most valuable developments will be an increased literature base. We are such a small and historically under-represented profession and our academic literature isn’t as developed as others. But I’m hopeful we’ll see more and more of us contributing to research, building collective knowledge, and strengthening our field.
OPN: What’s the best part of your job?
DA: Being able to make instant and substantial improvements to people’s lives. When a patient returns to have their orthosis supplied and immediately feels the difference – improvements in their speed, balance, and confidence – that sense of satisfaction never fades. Sometimes, though, that can happen before you’ve even done anything, just through taking the time to listen to their story and being open about how you can help can make a real difference.
OPN: … and the worst?
DA: It’s tough when things don’t quite go to plan – when your prescription doesn’t work the way you expected. Every now and again, all the clinical theory goes out the window and a patient ends up happier and more comfortable in something that, from all theoretical aspects, shouldn’t work. Beyond that, the biggest challenges tend to be systemic: in the NHS, it’s typically the workload and limited time with patients; and in private practice, it can be the time frames waiting for funding to be released.
OPN: What has been the highlight of your career so far?
DA: Very recently, one of my patients ran the London Marathon wearing the Momentum Ankle Foot Orthosis that I made for them – a custom carbon fibre below-knee orthosis. Now they have their sights on the New York Marathon and have even asked me to join them. All that’s left is to see if I can convince the company to pay for the flight.
That moment was made possible by another highlight – being head-hunted to lead Blatchford’s South East private clinic services. It’s given me the chance to work with technology I would not have access to in the NHS, and the freedom to mould my practice and clinic how I see fit.
OPN: Are you planning to attend or speak at any medical conferences or events in 2025-26?
DA: I’m expecting my first child within the next two months, so this year will probably be a bit quieter on that front. Next year though, once our findings from the Tectus UK study are complete and published, I will likely attend conferences such as ISPO (International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics) and BAPO (British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists) to present the findings. Otherwise, we often attend and sponsor events throughout the year for case managers, charities, and organisations.
OPN: If you didn’t work in the health industry, what would you be?
DA: That’s probably the most difficult of all of these questions, I have far too many interests. I think I would still be doing something practical and hands-on. When I was doing animation and visual effects, I struggled with the fact that none of my creations were tangible. While applying to La Trobe for prosthetics and orthotics, I was also considering a carpentry apprenticeship – so I might have ended up a carpenter. When I was younger, I even wanted to be a stuntman. That feels a bit less appealing now, after treating so many traumatic injuries.
OPN: How do you think the future looks within the field of orthopaedic surgery and treatments and what are your predictions for 2025 and the next decade?
DA: I think orthopaedic surgery and other surgical fields have the potential to render my role obsolete one day – and I don’t see that as something to lament, but rather as an optimistic inevitability. I don’t think for a second this will happen in the next decade though, but may be something for future generations of Orthotists to consider.
In the near future, I think the tools available to surgeons will make dramatic improvements to how they go about performing surgery and delivering personalised treatment. Improvements to joint replacement technology and longevity should mean I see fewer patients needing offloading braces while awaiting a knee replacement. Ankle replacements should become more commonplace and advanced, so some of my patients in AFOs may no longer need them.
The next decade though will likely see the foundations laid for significant and rapid change with us more easily able to collate and compare large pools of data, perform complex modelling and research, and share and test outcomes, to hopefully improve the rate and confidence in which we can apply these advancements to patients.
Image submitted by the author
