Orthotist or Artificial Limb Maker

Related Careers

• Medical Laboratory Technologist

• Clinical Technologist

• Dietician and Nutritionist

• Physical Therapist

• Physiotherapist

The medical Orthotist or Artificial Limb Maker, as this career is generally known, is concerned with the designing, manufacturing and fitting of splints, braces, surgical appliances or orthotics and artificial limbs or prosthesis, as they are called. The Orthotist Prosthetist is a member of the rehabilitation team, and enables people suffering from disabilities to live as normally as possible.

The surgeon issues a prescription to the Orthotists Prosthetists, which sets out the treatment the patient is to receive. The Orthotists Prosthetists then design and makes the surgical appliance or artificial limb to suit the specific individual in order to ensure that the appliance or limb is both well-fitting and functional. The Orthotists Prosthetists examines the disability, takes measurements and makes a plaster mould of the affected area. Once the appliance or limb has been made it is fitted on the patient. Adjustments are made until both the patient and the Orthotists Prosthetists are satisfied with the result.

The Orthotists Prosthetists may spend quite some time instructing the patient on the use of the particular medical appliance or artificial limb.