Prosthetist
Encyclopedia
A prosthetist, as defined by The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics, Inc., is a person who measures, designs, fabricates, fits, or services a prosthesis
as prescribed by a licensed physician
, and who assists in the formulation of the prosthesis prescription for the replacement of external parts of the human body lost due to amputation
or congenital deformities
or absences.
A prosthetist is a person that has been certified to fit prostheses to residual limbs of the upper and lower extremities. The fitting of lower extremity prostheses, for example, involves making a socket that fits the residuum as a first step. The socket is usually manufactured by glass or carbon fiber infused with acrylic resin or from thermoplastics over a positive model of the residuum. The socket is connected to a foot or ankle assembly and in the case of above knee amputation, an artificial knee. The connecting components are usually an aluminum tube with two part pyramid alignment devises one at each end. One of the devices connects to the ankle and the other one to the socket. They allow the foot to be placed in proper position to support the persons weight with the least possible lateral forces acting through the system. Prostheses are aligned with the client walking, while the prosthetist observes the gait and corrects for any deviations from optimized movement when the leg is in the air and for its position at heel strike and toe off.
In the United States
, a Certified Prosthetist (CP) is a prosthetist who has passed the psychometrically validated certification standards and met the established educational criteria of The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics, Inc. and maintains certification through mandatory continuing education program and adherence to the Code of Professional Responsibility. The Board for Orthotic Certification also has a designation (boco) for people who have passed their test.
Prosthesis
In medicine, a prosthesis, prosthetic, or prosthetic limb is an artificial device extension that replaces a missing body part. It is part of the field of biomechatronics, the science of using mechanical devices with human muscle, skeleton, and nervous systems to assist or enhance motor control...
as prescribed by a licensed physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, and who assists in the formulation of the prosthesis prescription for the replacement of external parts of the human body lost due to amputation
Amputation
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma, prolonged constriction, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for...
or congenital deformities
Congenital disorder
A congenital disorder, or congenital disease, is a condition existing at birth and often before birth, or that develops during the first month of life , regardless of causation...
or absences.
A prosthetist is a person that has been certified to fit prostheses to residual limbs of the upper and lower extremities. The fitting of lower extremity prostheses, for example, involves making a socket that fits the residuum as a first step. The socket is usually manufactured by glass or carbon fiber infused with acrylic resin or from thermoplastics over a positive model of the residuum. The socket is connected to a foot or ankle assembly and in the case of above knee amputation, an artificial knee. The connecting components are usually an aluminum tube with two part pyramid alignment devises one at each end. One of the devices connects to the ankle and the other one to the socket. They allow the foot to be placed in proper position to support the persons weight with the least possible lateral forces acting through the system. Prostheses are aligned with the client walking, while the prosthetist observes the gait and corrects for any deviations from optimized movement when the leg is in the air and for its position at heel strike and toe off.
In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, a Certified Prosthetist (CP) is a prosthetist who has passed the psychometrically validated certification standards and met the established educational criteria of The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics, Inc. and maintains certification through mandatory continuing education program and adherence to the Code of Professional Responsibility. The Board for Orthotic Certification also has a designation (boco) for people who have passed their test.