Prosthetist/Orthotist

Citations

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Orthotists and Prosthetists,

on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/orthotists-and-prosthetists.htm

(Visited September 11, 2014).

Prosthetist/ Orthotist, https://www2.careercruising.com/careers/profile-at-a-glance/355

(Visited September 11, 2014).

"National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE)." Affiliated and Related Organizations. http://www.ncope.org/about/resources/

(Visited September 11, 2014).

Professional organizations include:

• American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (AAOP)
• American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC)
• National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics & Prosthetics (NAAOP)
• International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO)

Career Outlook

• It is a growing field
• Employment of orthotists and prosthetists is estimated to grow 36% from 2012 to 2022, which is faster than the average for all occupations.
• Diabetes and cardiovascular disease are the two leading causes of limb loss
• It's more common with older people and since we have an aging population, more are needed

The Daily Life of a Prosthetist/Orthotist

Education

Here is a technician making a prosthetic leg.

Here, she is helping this patient fit and test their prosthetic leg.

• Prosthetists design and fit artificial limbs
• They do this by...

1. taking measurements and impressions of the area where the artificial leg will attach.

2. make plaster casts of the patient’s leg to use as a guide.

3. they design a custom device for the patient.

4. technicians build the appliances for them

• After they make the final adjustments to the device, they teach their patients how to use and adjust to their artificial limbs.
• They also keep records of their patients and their appliances.
• Work 7-8 hours a day
• Spend their day at companies, hospitals, clinics, rehab facilities, nursing homes, and at companies that manufacture these devices.

• Orthotists do similar work, they create braces that support and correct problems with the body such as crooked spines.

• The classes that are required for this job include
• upper and lower extremity prosthetics and orthotics
• spinal orthotics
• plastics and other materials

• This job requires you to go to a 4-year college or university and have a masters degree in orthotics and prosthetics.

• A degree requirement is that students must work under the direction of an O&P professional. Most programs require at least 500 hours of clinical experience, split equally between orthotics and prosthetics.

• Some colleges that are known for being great with this job are
• Northwestern University
• Georgia Institute Of Technology
• University Of Washington
• University Of Pittsburgh

Prosthetist/Orthotist

• Prosthetists are the people who make artificial limbs
• Orthotists are people who make braces to correct or support limbs

The salary range for this job is $34,000-$105,000 a year

Prosthetist /Orthotist

By: Christine Van Oyen