An orthotist is a licensed health care provider who collaborates with doctors to design and fit braces and splints for patients. Patients with spine or limb injuries, as well as those born with or developing deformities of the feet, limbs, or spine, receive custom-fit braces. Orthotists are in charge of taking into account each patient’s unique situation and medical requirements.
Orthotists collaborate with a variety of medical professionals to provide their patients with the best braces and splints possible. An orthotist will usually meet with the patient’s doctor, podiatrist, and physical therapist to fit them. In addition to the orthotist, a technician will assist with many aspects of the brace or splint fitting. To receive care or services from an orthotist, a patient must have a physician’s prescription.
Based on the patient’s needs, the orthotist recommends the appropriate ortheses. A medical evaluation is the first step in recommending an orthosis. When justifying any recommendation to a general physician, an orthtotist must take into account a person’s medical situation as well as the patient’s daily activities. Fabricated splints, custom footwear, insoles, back braces, neck braces, and surgical supports are all examples of orthosis.
Working as an orthotist necessitates a high level of manual dexterity and creativity, as the orthotist will frequently create a plaster cast to see how the orthotic device will interact with the patient’s limb. The device is usually built by technicians, who are overseen by the orthotist. The orthotist will measure the patient and explain how to use the device. Physical therapy is frequently recommended in order to get the most functionality out of the device.
Orthodontists frequently maintain long-term relationships with their patients. Following the prescription and fitting of an orthosis, the patient will be monitored for a period of time. The orthotist monitors the prescription to ensure that it fits properly, functions properly, and that any problems caused by the orthosis are identified. An orthotic device may need to be modified or improved on occasion. This can be done without a prescription, but any significant changes to a prescription must be approved by the patient’s primary care physician first.
Though formal training begins in adulthood, high school courses can help a future orthotist prepare for a career in this field. Biology, chemistry, and physics courses are required, and computer science should be included in course work if possible. After high school, there are a variety of options for pursuing a career as a certified orthotist.
Some colleges offer undergraduate orthotics programs that lead to a diploma. People who are pursuing, or have already completed, a bachelor’s degree in a different field can also pursue certification programs. Education requirements differ by country, and the aforementioned path to certification is only applicable to those in the United States, as defined by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC).
Orthotists are employed in a variety of settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and industrial health centers. Many orthotists have their own outpatient practices where patients can see them. Orthotists have the flexibility to work in a variety of settings, own their own business, and improve the lives of patients of all ages and backgrounds, making a career as an orthotist a very rewarding one.