Prosthetics and orthotics are designed to support a person’s ability to function, whether due to injury or disease. They are often custom-fabricated to each patient based on their anatomy and medical condition. They can be used to manage pain, improve mobility, or restore a sense of normalcy to people who have lost part of their body due to trauma, illness, or birth defect.

 

The prosthetics and orthotics market is growing rapidly, particularly in Asia Pacific, due to the increase in diabetes-related limb loss, high incidence of road accidents, and supportive government initiatives. The aging population, heightened awareness of the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle, and improved healthcare infrastructure are further driving the growth of this market.

 

Research has shown that prosthetics and orthotics can help to reduce overall health care costs. Early delivery of a prosthesis can be associated with up to a 25 percent reduction in overall direct health care costs. This is because prosthetic and orthotic use can improve mobility, thereby decreasing the need for other medical treatments, such as surgery, medication, and physical therapy.

 

A prosthetics and orthotics practitioner is a health care professional who is specially trained to measure, design, fabricate, fit, or service a cranial helmet They are licensed or certified to work under the direction of a physician and must pass national certification exams. The scope of practice varies by state. Most states have licensure requirements for prosthetists and orthotists. They may also be required to pass a background check and drug screening.

 

In addition to the above-mentioned issues, it’s important for patients to consider the type of materials used in their devices. For example, some materials can retain heat and be a problem in hot weather or for patients with incontinence. Other factors to consider include corrosion resistance and ease of fabrication.

 

Prosthetics and orthotics are usually custom fabricated for each patient, so they cannot be returned for credit or refund. It’s also important to be aware of any underlying issues that might require future adjustments or repairs. A change in a patient’s physiological or anatomical changes can require the device to be modified, and there may be a charge for these modifications.

 

The prosthetic companies Philadelphia is composed primarily of engineers and physicians, although other disciplines are represented as well. Each member serves as an individual rather than a representative of an organization or institution and is appointed to three-year terms by the President of the National Academy of Sciences. Members serve without pay. A small staff is employed to carry out day-to-day activities.

 

The Canadian Prosthetics & Orthotics Journal (CPOJ) is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal that promotes unrestricted access to prosthetics and orthotics research and rehabilitation sciences articles. It is a member of, and subscribes to the principles of, the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). All CPOJ articles are available for free download under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. This license allows anyone to copy and redistribute the article, provided that the original authors and source are cited. Get a general overview of the topic here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthotics.