By
Embla Medical reported a solid start to 2026, with first-quarter sales reaching USD 232 million, representing 15% reported growth and 4% organic growth compared with Q1 2025. The company said performance was led by continued momentum in Prosthetics & Neuro Orthotics, supported by volume growth across regions and product categories.
For the orthotics and prosthetics sector, the results underline a clear industry trend: advanced prosthetics, bionics, neuro orthotics, patient-care networks and digital clinical workflows are becoming central to growth in global O&P.
Embla Medical’s Prosthetics & Neuro Orthotics segment delivered the strongest performance in the quarter, generating USD 136 million in sales and 9% organic growth. The segment accounted for 54% of Q1 2026 sales, according to the company’s investor roadshow presentation.
The company said growth in this segment was supported by strong activity in bionics, prosthetic feet, and other key product categories. In the Americas, growth was helped by recently launched innovation in bionics and feet, while Neuro Orthotics continued to ramp up in the United States. In EMEA, the company reported broad-based momentum across bionics, feet and other prosthetic categories, alongside continued progress for the FIOR & GENTZ neuro orthotics portfolio.
The APAC region also stood out, with 14% organic growth in Q1 2026. Embla Medical said APAC growth was driven by strong performance across all three segments: Prosthetics & Neuro Orthotics, Bracing & Supports, and Patient Care.
By contrast, Bracing & Supports delivered only 1% organic growth, with sales of USD 37 million. The investor presentation noted that the segment continues to face shifting market dynamics, competitive pressure and increased price sensitivity, particularly in the Americas and parts of Europe. However, Embla Medical expects growth in 2026 from focused initiatives and new product launches.
Patient Care sales were USD 70 million and declined 1% organically in Q1 2026. The company attributed the softer quarter mainly to timing effects in Europe, including Easter holidays overlapping March, following a strong Q4 2025. In the Americas, however, Patient Care performance recovered after initiatives implemented in the second half of 2025.
The company’s Patient Care strategy remains significant for the wider O&P market. Embla Medical is continuing the global rebranding of its clinic network under the ForMotion name. The investor presentation stated that the global rebrand was more than 90% complete and expected to conclude during Q2 2026.
Profitability was more mixed. Gross profit margin was 62%, down from 63% in Q1 2025. EBITDA was USD 40 million, with an EBITDA margin of 17%, compared with 18% in Q1 2025. Embla Medical said the margin decline reflected foreign-exchange headwinds and the impact of US tariffs.
Net profit increased 21% to USD 15 million, supported by growing operating results and a favourable impact from net financial expenses. Free cash flow was USD 4 million, or 2% of sales, which the company described as seasonally low for Q1 and negatively affected by changes in net working capital.
Despite external pressures, Embla Medical maintained its full-year 2026 outlook, with expected organic sales growth of 5–8% and an EBITDA margin before special items of 20–22%.
Technology and Product Innovation
Several recent product developments are especially relevant for prosthetists, orthotists and clinic operators.
Embla Medical highlighted AeroFit® Vent, a prosthetic socket ventilation solution that combines a 3D-printed Seal-In liner with a vented socket. The company says the system is designed to reduce humidity accumulation, promote airflow and improve perceived residual-limb skin health through a micro-hole pattern, meshed silicone structure and moisture-wicking liner fabric.
This is clinically important because socket comfort, heat, sweat, skin irritation and residual-limb health remain major barriers to prosthetic use. A breathable interface concept such as AeroFit Vent points toward a broader market shift: prosthetic innovation is moving beyond component function alone and into the daily comfort and skin-health challenges that determine whether patients actually wear their devices.
Embla Medical also highlighted updates to the Össur Power Knee, including improved powered motion, sit-to-stand assistance, stair function and stumble recovery. These updates reflect the growing importance of powered prosthetic technology for users who need more support in real-world mobility.
The company’s investor presentation also places bionics at the centre of its prosthetics growth story, with the market continuing to develop through innovation, functional trade-up, regional expansion and new reimbursement access. In particular, Embla Medical sees US Medicare coverage expansion for K2 patients as a mid-to-long-term opportunity for microprocessor knee adoption.
Why This Matters for CPOs and O&P Providers
For CPOs, clinic owners and rehabilitation providers, Embla Medical’s Q1 2026 results point to several important market signals.
First, advanced prosthetics and neuro orthotics are outperforming traditional bracing categories. This suggests that clinics able to evaluate, fit and support higher-function technologies may be better positioned for growth.
Second, patient comfort is becoming a major innovation focus. Products such as AeroFit Vent show how manufacturers are addressing residual-limb humidity, socket microclimate and skin-health issues, which are daily clinical concerns for prosthetists and users.
Third, neuro orthotics is emerging as a growth category. The expansion of FIOR & GENTZ and the planned broader launch of the NEURO HiTRONIC MPKAFO show how intelligent orthotic joints may become a larger part of future O&P practice.
Fourth, patient-care networks are becoming more strategically important. Embla Medical’s shift toward a more patient-centric model, supported by ForMotion clinics, reflects a wider movement from product-only supply toward integrated clinical services.
IMEA CPO Perspective
For the IMEA region, the most important message is that global O&P growth is being driven by a combination of technology, access and clinical infrastructure.
Embla Medical’s investor presentation notes that developed markets generate most of today’s sales, but emerging markets represent more than 80% of new amputee volume, creating a major long-term opportunity.
That is highly relevant for countries across the Middle East, India and Africa, where the need for prosthetic and orthotic care is expanding due to diabetes, vascular disease, trauma, conflict, ageing populations and improving access to rehabilitation.
However, the opportunity is not only to sell more components. The real challenge is building service models that can deliver:
- Proper assessment and prescription
- Skilled prosthetic and orthotic fitting
- Follow-up and maintenance
- Skin-health and socket-management support
- Digital workflows where appropriate
- Access to advanced solutions for suitable patients
- Affordable pathways for lower-resource settings
Embla Medical’s results show the direction of travel for the global O&P industry: more bionics, more neuro orthotics, more patient-centred service delivery, and more focus on technologies that improve real-world mobility.
