Orthotist & Prosthetist

What is an orthotist?

An orthotist is a healthcare provider who specializes in making and fitting orthotic devices (orthoses) to support and protect your musculoskeletal system. Orthoses include braces, splints and orthotic shoe inserts that help stabilize, realign, redistribute weight or restrict movement in different body parts. An orthotist can assess your physical disability or injury and design a custom orthosis to counteract it.

What conditions does an orthotist treat?

You might see an orthotist if you have:

• A musculoskeletal injury, like a bone fracture or sprain. Orthotic devices can help immobilize, stabilize and protect the injured part while it heals. They can also take pressure off the injury.
• A musculoskeletal deformity, like scoliosis or hip dysplasia, or a foot deformity, like flat feet or clubfoot. Orthoses can help correct deformities and/or prevent them from getting worse.
• A neuromuscular disorder that causes muscle weakness and/or spasticity, like cerebral palsy or stroke. Orthotic devices can help support the weaker parts and reduce the effects of spasticity.
• A chronic pain condition affecting your musculoskeletal system, like arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome, or a chronic wound. Orthoses can help redistribute force away from the painful site.

What is a prosthetist?

A prosthetist is a healthcare provider who specializes in making and fitting prosthetic parts (prostheses) to replace missing body parts. Prosthetists design custom prosthetic limbs and appendages, like arms and legs, hands and feet, fingers and toes. They’ll work with you to design a prosthesis that fits your form and meets your functional and cosmetic needs. They’ll also adjust it and repair it as needed.

What conditions does a prosthetist treat?

Prosthetists design solutions for limb loss and limb differences. You might see a prosthetist if you have:

• A congenital difference (birth defect) affecting your limb.
• An amputation.

What is the difference between an orthotist and a prosthetist?

There’s a lot of overlap between orthotists and prosthetists, and it’s not uncommon for one provider to practice as both. Others choose to specialize as one or the other. Orthotists and prosthetists both deal in technology that works together with your musculoskeletal system to adjust or improve how it functions. They use the same biomechanical principles, whether they’re making a knee brace or a prosthetic knee.

Prosthetists create prosthetic parts that replace missing or malformed parts of your musculoskeletal system. You’re more likely to see a prosthetist if you’re lacking a functional limb, either from birth or from amputation. Orthotists, on the other hand, treat a wide variety of people with musculoskeletal pain or disability. They design solutions to help people sit, stand or move more comfortably and safely.

Do orthotists and prosthetists go to medical school?

Orthotists and prosthetists belong to a class of healthcare providers called allied health professionals. These providers act as allies to medical doctors and nurses by offering specialized healthcare services that complement medical care. They don’t go to medical school, but they have their own education and residency requirements in their field. They earn a master’s degree in Orthotics and Prosthetics.

What do orthotists and prosthetists study?

Orthotists and prosthetists need to have a broad base of knowledge in many sciences, including:

• Anatomy: How all the parts of your musculoskeletal system fit together.
• Biomechanics: How mechanical forces work within your musculoskeletal system.
• Kinesiology: The science of movement and its effects on your body.
• Pathology: How the conditions they treat develop and progress.
• Engineering: How to develop appliances that apply force in complex ways.
• Design and fabrication: How to craft the appliance, whether with hand tools or a computer.

What skills do orthotists and prosthetists need to have?

To be an orthotist or prosthetist, you need to be skilled in:

• Clinical assessment: Orthotists and prosthetists need to be able to evaluate the mechanics of each individual body they treat, what’s causing them difficulties and what you can do about it.
• Interpersonal skills: Orthotists and prosthetists must be skilled clinicians who can communicate effectively with the people they treat and collaborate with their caregivers and other providers.
• Manual dexterity: Orthotists and prosthetists work with their hands to create finely tuned appliances that are custom fit to your body. They also adjust and repair them as needed.
• Problem-solving skills: Developing the right orthotic or prosthetic solution for you can be a process. When complications arise, an orthotist or prosthetist makes changes and tries again.

Are orthotists and prosthetists clinicians?

Yes, both orthotists and prosthetists work directly with the people they treat, in a clinical setting. They’ll personally assess your condition, discuss your needs and goals, and take measurements or make impressions of your body in the process of designing your orthosis or prosthesis. They’ll oversee the manufacturing and fitting of your device and show you how to use it. They’ll also assess how it works.

While some people only need the care of an orthotist temporarily, many people with chronic conditions will need lifelong orthotic care. Those living with a prosthesis will also need the care of a prosthetist for life. Orthotists and prosthetists have the opportunity to form long-term relationships with the people they care for. They can get to know your physical issues and needs on a highly individual level.