Orthotist / Prosthetist

Design, measure, fit, and adapt orthopedic braces, appliances or prostheses, such as limbs or facial parts for patients with disabling conditions.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Certified Orthotist (CO); Certified Pedorthist; Certified Prosthetist (CP); Certified Prosthetist Orthotist (CPO); Licensed Orthotist; LPO (Licensed Prosthetist Orthotist); Orthotic Practitioner; Orthotist; Prosthetic Practitioner; Prosthetist

Tasks

• Fit, test, and evaluate devices on patients, and make adjustments for proper fit, function, and comfort.
• Instruct patients in the use and care of orthoses and prostheses.
• Maintain patients' records.
• Examine, interview, and measure patients to determine their appliance needs and to identify factors that could affect appliance fit.
• Select materials and components to be used, based on device design.
• Design orthopedic and prosthetic devices, based on physicians' prescriptions and examination and measurement of patients.
• Repair, rebuild, and modify prosthetic and orthopedic appliances.
• Construct and fabricate appliances, or supervise others constructing the appliances.
• Make and modify plaster casts of areas to be fitted with prostheses or orthoses to guide the device construction process.
• Confer with physicians to formulate specifications and prescriptions for orthopedic or prosthetic devices.
• Show and explain orthopedic and prosthetic appliances to healthcare workers.
• Train and supervise support staff, such as orthopedic and prosthetic assistants and technicians.
• Update skills and knowledge by attending conferences and seminars.
• Research new ways to construct and use orthopedic and prosthetic devices.

Knowledge

• Customer and Personal Service
• Medicine and Dentistry
• Design
• Therapy and Counseling
• Psychology
• English Language
• Production and Processing
• Mechanical
• Education and Training
• Administration and Management
• Engineering and Technology
• Administrative
• Computers and Electronics
• Physics
• Biology
• Mathematics

Skills

• Reading Comprehension
• Active Listening
• Writing
• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Active Learning
• Monitoring
• Learning Strategies
• Mathematics

Abilities

• Oral Comprehension
• Written Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Problem Sensitivity
• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Near Vision
• Written Expression
• Visualization
• Information Ordering
• Speech Recognition
• Speech Clarity
• Category Flexibility
• Fluency of Ideas
• Originality
• Selective Attention
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Manual Dexterity
• Finger Dexterity
• Control Precision
• Far Vision