Orthotists get started in their field by getting their foot in the door.
If they get it slammed in there, they know exactly how to fix it. They would
use an orthosis -- a brace fitted to a body part.
Orthotists change the lives of people who cannot perform certain functions
due to birth defects or physical impairments. They give these patients an
artificial advantage through a brace. Certified orthotists evaluate and design
orthoses (braces) for patients.
A person may need an orthosis due to an injury, a birth defect, a disease
or an accident.
Orthopedic appliances are also called orthotics. They are specialized devices
to support or help joints or limbs. They include:
- Custom footwear
- Back braces
- Wrist, foot, ankle or knee braces (casts are not considered to be appliances)
Orthopedic appliances are used to:
- Support abnormal or injured joints
- Limit pressure on a joint after injury to allow the joint to heal
- Correct abnormal curves in the spine
- Provide back support to prevent injury
Health-care providers prescribe orthopedic appliances. Many appliances
need to be individually fitted. A licensed professional, called an orthotist,
does this. The orthotist decides which device to give a patient based on a
personal evaluation.
Orthotic appliances are designed to increase function and decrease pain.
Orthotists design, manufacture, fit and modify braces made out of plastic
and metal for people who need them.
Orthotists may perform the following tasks:
- Assess clients' needs by examination
- Design, fabricate, fit and align the orthoses
- Evaluate the effectiveness and comfort of these aids
- Record and report clinical information
- Provide advice to other health professionals and clients
- Supervise support personnel
Once a patient's needs are assessed, a brace is designed. The orthotist
modifies the design, depending on the user's needs. The brace may change if
the patient has changes in muscle mass or weight gain or loss.
Orthotists may specialize in pediatrics (children), adults or geriatrics
(elderly). Each group has its own special needs. Children may need braces
if they are born with birth defects. Adults may need a brace if they have
a stroke or an accident. Elderly people may need a brace if their body is
deteriorating.
Orthotists usually work Monday through Friday, 9 to 5. Most work in an
office or a hospital, although sometimes a "brace fitting" clinic is set up
in a different location, such as a nursing home.
Edward Lemaire works at a rehabilitation clinic. He says physical disabilities
won't slow anyone down if they want to be an orthotist. "As long as you can
work with hand tools and can move positive models [plaster models of a client's
limb] around the shop, you could work in the orthotics field," he says. "Some
people in a wheelchair could manage it."