People can experience the total or partial loss of a limb or an orthopedic impairment for many reasons, including accidents, combat injuries, birth defects and disease.

Health care workers who specialize in orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) help these patients regain their mobility by fitting them with artificial limbs (prostheses) and orthopedic braces (orthoses). This fascinating field encompasses a variety of specialized careers, each of which contributes to designing, making, fitting, modifying, repairing and maintaining O&P devices that make an immeasurable impact on an individual’s quality of life.

O&P practitioners:

·         Perform a detailed assessment to determine the patient’s O&P needs

·         Assess the patient’s functional status, including muscle development, gait, sensory function, range of motion, joint stability and skin integrity

·         Develop a plan that addresses the patient’s needs and goals, including pain reduction, comfort, stability, mobility, as well as aesthetics

·         Select the appropriate design, materials, and components for optimum strength, durability and function

·         Discuss the treatment plan, including benefits, risks and time involved

·         Prepare the patient for the device, with the use of splints or compression garments, as needed

·         Take measurements, make impressions, and develop templates as needed to accurately fit the device

·         Fabricate/assemble the device and assess and properly align for maximum function and comfort

·         Explain how to use and maintain the device

·         Provide ongoing care, including evaluation and modification of the device for optimal fit and function

Many people enter this field because they or someone they know has benefited from a prosthetic or orthotic device.  It is extremely rewarding to watch someone with a severe impairment regain lost abilities and enjoy new independence. Advances in technology, such as microprocessors, myoelectric joints and computer imaging, make this a particularly exciting time to be involved in O&P.

To learn more, watch the video profile of "Orthotists and Prosthetists."

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