Role of Prosthetists and Orthotists in a Rehabilitation Team: Difference between revisions
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== | == Introduction == | ||
Prosthetics is a specialty within the medical and health care field concerned with the research and development, design, manufacture and application of prostheses. Similarly, orthotics is a discipline concerned with orthoses. Prosthetics and orthotics often comprise similar steps in service delivery and similar tools, equipment and working methods and are therefore usually taught, promoted and practised together. “Prosthetics and orthotics” is the umbrella term for the science, technology, education and application of prostheses and orthoses. <ref name=":0">WHO standards for prosthetics and orthotics. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2017. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.</ref> | |||
= | Prostheses (artificial legs and hands) and orthoses (braces and splints) enable people with physical impairments or functional limitations to live healthy, productive, independent, dignified lives and to participate in education, the labour market and social life. The use of prostheses or orthoses can reduce the need for formal health care, support services, long- term care and caregivers. Without access to prostheses or orthoses, people who need them are often excluded, isolated and locked into poverty, which increases the burden of morbidity and disability. <ref name=":0" /> | ||
== | == Governance == | ||
In many countries governance of the development and management of prosthetics and orthotics services are limited or non-existent, with limited guiding frameworks in use.<ref name=":1">Clarke, L., Puli, L., Ridgewell, E. ''et al.'' Regulation of the global orthotist/prosthetist workforce, and what we might learn from allied health professions with international-level regulatory support: a narrative review. ''Hum Resour Health'' 19, 83 (2021). <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-021-00625-9</nowiki></ref><ref name=":0" /> In a recent study only 30 out of 197 countries<ref name=":1" />, had some degree of regulation of the prosthetist and orthotist workforce. This study also highlighted that there is currently no international professional governing body specifically for Prosthetists and Orthotists, as is present fr many other health and social care professionals. | |||
The International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO), is a multidisciplinary membership organisation that promotes access to appropriate and equitable rehabilitation, mobility devices, and other assistive technology to improve the quality of life for people with reduced mobility. As a global, multidisciplinary, non-governmental organisation aiming to improve the quality of life for persons who may benefit from prosthetic, orthotic, mobility and assistive devices, ISPO provides a platform for the exchange and communication on all aspects of the science, practice, and education associated with the provision of prosthetic and orthotic care, rehabilitation engineering, and related areas. ISPO has approximately 3,300 members of different professional disciplines in over 100 countries which is not limited to prosthetists and orthotists and prosthetic and orthotic (P&O) technicians but also includes orthopedic surgeons, rehabilitation doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, orthopedic shoemakers, nurses and biomechanical/rehabilitation engineers. <ref name=":1" /> | |||
== Different Roles == | |||
Prosthetics and Orthotics is a dynamic and expanding allied health care profession. Prosthetist and orthotist are individuals who have completed an approved course of education and training and are authorised by an appropriate national authority to design, measure and fit prostheses and orthoses. While technically, Prosthetics and Orthotics are separate disciplines, their common goals in rehabilitation unite them into one cooperative entity. In some cases individuals may have dual training, while others have training only in prosthetics or orthotics. Currently there is a global shortage of prosthetics and orthotics personnel.<ref>WHO standards for prosthetics and orthotics. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2017. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.</ref> | |||
=== Prosthetist === | |||
A prosthetist is a healthcare professional who assess and treat the physical and functional limitations of people resulting from illnesses and disabilities, including limb amputations and are trained to prescribe, design, fit and monitor [[/www.aopa.org.au/careers/what-are-orthoses-and-prostheses|orthoses and prostheses]]<nowiki/>who makes and fits artificial limbs (prostheses) for people with limb loss. This includes prosthetic legs and arms for people who have had amputations due to conditions such as cancer, diabetes, or injury. | |||
=== Orthotist === | |||
An orthotist is a healthcare professional who makes and fits braces and splints (orthoses) for people who need added support for body parts that have been weakened by injury, disease, or disorders of the nerves, muscles, or bones. | |||
=== Prosthetic and Orthotic Technicians === | |||
A prosthetic and orthotic technician is a non-clinical service providers, who work under the supervision of the orthotist or prosthetist to support the technical design of prosthetic and orthotic devices and are competent in prosthetic and orthotic device fabrication. They generally specialise in device fabrication and have a background in material science, engineering principles, technical procedures/ processes and their role is generally in the design and fabrication of the devices and have no clinical contact with patients in relation to clinical aspects such as fitting adjustments, static or dynamic alignment, although they may provide support to resolve technical issues with the devices. <ref>International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics. [https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.ispoint.org/resource/resmgr/3_learn/ispo_standards_nov2018_sprea.pdf ISPO Education Standards for Prosthetic and Orthotic Occupations]. 2018</ref> | |||
== Where they Work == | |||
Prosthetists and Orthotists work in a wide variety of settings with adults and children of all ages with a wide range of conditions including children born with congenital limb deficiency or cerebral palsy, people who have had an amputation following an accident, patients with muscular weakness after a stroke or spinal injury, patients with diabetic foot ulcers or the elderly who have lost a limb as a result of vascular disease. | |||
Prosthetists and Orthotists work across a wide range of sectors including hospitals, private orthotic/prosthetic facilities and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and in academia and research areas in major tertiary hospitals and universities. Within the clinical setting an orthotist/prosthetist is part of the healthcare team which can be found in secondary or tertiary centres, and within community based primary care centres including clinics, day centres, rehabilitation centres, and within industry including device fabrication centres. | |||
== Knowledge and Skills == | |||
With rapid advances in technology and health care, the roles of the prosthetist and orthotist have expanded from a technologic focus to a more inclusive focus on being a member of the rehabilitation team. Prosthetic and orthotic occupations are a spectrum of specialised health care disciplines that combines a unique blend of clinical and technical competencies to provide assistive products for people with physical impairments. | |||
Patient examination, evaluation, education, and treatment are currently significant responsibilities of practitioners. In addition to treatment planning and the implementation for custom prosthetic and orthotic interventions, professionals may also be responsible for modular or prefabricated devices, soft goods, mobility aids, postural supports, wheelchairs and other assistive products related to prosthetic and orthotic services. | |||
Most technical tasks are completed by technicians who work in the office, in the laboratory, or at an increasing number of central fabrication facilities. The advent and availability of modifiable prefabrication systems have reduced the amount of time that the practitioner spends crafting new prostheses and orthoses.<ref>Chui KK, Jorge M, Yen SC, Lusardi MM. Orthotics and Prosthetics in Rehabilitation (Fourth Edition).2020</ref> | |||
Prosthetist and orthotist help improve movement and function through the provision of prosthetic and orthotic devices to increase quality of life and optimise function. Prosthetics and orthotics services provide comprehensive care with preventive, promotive, assistive and rehabilitative interventions. They usually involve assessment of potential users and a treatment plan, including the design, manufacture, fitting and delivery of prostheses and orthoses, which support the body and assist with function such as walking, running, grasping and balance. Clinicians manage a wide variety of conditions across the lifespan including limb loss, scoliosis, diabetes, stroke and spinal cord injury.<ref name=":0" /> | |||
== Resources == | == Resources == | ||
[https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/259209/9789241512480-part1-eng.pdf WHO Standards for Prosthetics and Orthotics]. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2017. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. | |||
ISPO [https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.ispoint.org/resource/resmgr/3_learn/ispo_standards_nov2018_sprea.pdf Education Standards for Prosthetic and Orthotic Occupations]. 2018 | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 19:47, 4 August 2021
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Top Contributors - Naomi O'Reilly, Nicolette Chamberlain-Simon, Kim Jackson, Shaimaa Eldib, Oyemi Sillo, Ashmita Patrao and Rishika Babburu
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Prosthetics is a specialty within the medical and health care field concerned with the research and development, design, manufacture and application of prostheses. Similarly, orthotics is a discipline concerned with orthoses. Prosthetics and orthotics often comprise similar steps in service delivery and similar tools, equipment and working methods and are therefore usually taught, promoted and practised together. “Prosthetics and orthotics” is the umbrella term for the science, technology, education and application of prostheses and orthoses. [1]
Prostheses (artificial legs and hands) and orthoses (braces and splints) enable people with physical impairments or functional limitations to live healthy, productive, independent, dignified lives and to participate in education, the labour market and social life. The use of prostheses or orthoses can reduce the need for formal health care, support services, long- term care and caregivers. Without access to prostheses or orthoses, people who need them are often excluded, isolated and locked into poverty, which increases the burden of morbidity and disability. [1]
Governance[edit | edit source]
In many countries governance of the development and management of prosthetics and orthotics services are limited or non-existent, with limited guiding frameworks in use.[2][1] In a recent study only 30 out of 197 countries[2], had some degree of regulation of the prosthetist and orthotist workforce. This study also highlighted that there is currently no international professional governing body specifically for Prosthetists and Orthotists, as is present fr many other health and social care professionals.
The International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO), is a multidisciplinary membership organisation that promotes access to appropriate and equitable rehabilitation, mobility devices, and other assistive technology to improve the quality of life for people with reduced mobility. As a global, multidisciplinary, non-governmental organisation aiming to improve the quality of life for persons who may benefit from prosthetic, orthotic, mobility and assistive devices, ISPO provides a platform for the exchange and communication on all aspects of the science, practice, and education associated with the provision of prosthetic and orthotic care, rehabilitation engineering, and related areas. ISPO has approximately 3,300 members of different professional disciplines in over 100 countries which is not limited to prosthetists and orthotists and prosthetic and orthotic (P&O) technicians but also includes orthopedic surgeons, rehabilitation doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, orthopedic shoemakers, nurses and biomechanical/rehabilitation engineers. [2]
Different Roles[edit | edit source]
Prosthetics and Orthotics is a dynamic and expanding allied health care profession. Prosthetist and orthotist are individuals who have completed an approved course of education and training and are authorised by an appropriate national authority to design, measure and fit prostheses and orthoses. While technically, Prosthetics and Orthotics are separate disciplines, their common goals in rehabilitation unite them into one cooperative entity. In some cases individuals may have dual training, while others have training only in prosthetics or orthotics. Currently there is a global shortage of prosthetics and orthotics personnel.[3]
Prosthetist[edit | edit source]
A prosthetist is a healthcare professional who assess and treat the physical and functional limitations of people resulting from illnesses and disabilities, including limb amputations and are trained to prescribe, design, fit and monitor orthoses and prostheseswho makes and fits artificial limbs (prostheses) for people with limb loss. This includes prosthetic legs and arms for people who have had amputations due to conditions such as cancer, diabetes, or injury.
Orthotist[edit | edit source]
An orthotist is a healthcare professional who makes and fits braces and splints (orthoses) for people who need added support for body parts that have been weakened by injury, disease, or disorders of the nerves, muscles, or bones.
Prosthetic and Orthotic Technicians[edit | edit source]
A prosthetic and orthotic technician is a non-clinical service providers, who work under the supervision of the orthotist or prosthetist to support the technical design of prosthetic and orthotic devices and are competent in prosthetic and orthotic device fabrication. They generally specialise in device fabrication and have a background in material science, engineering principles, technical procedures/ processes and their role is generally in the design and fabrication of the devices and have no clinical contact with patients in relation to clinical aspects such as fitting adjustments, static or dynamic alignment, although they may provide support to resolve technical issues with the devices. [4]
Where they Work[edit | edit source]
Prosthetists and Orthotists work in a wide variety of settings with adults and children of all ages with a wide range of conditions including children born with congenital limb deficiency or cerebral palsy, people who have had an amputation following an accident, patients with muscular weakness after a stroke or spinal injury, patients with diabetic foot ulcers or the elderly who have lost a limb as a result of vascular disease.
Prosthetists and Orthotists work across a wide range of sectors including hospitals, private orthotic/prosthetic facilities and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and in academia and research areas in major tertiary hospitals and universities. Within the clinical setting an orthotist/prosthetist is part of the healthcare team which can be found in secondary or tertiary centres, and within community based primary care centres including clinics, day centres, rehabilitation centres, and within industry including device fabrication centres.
Knowledge and Skills[edit | edit source]
With rapid advances in technology and health care, the roles of the prosthetist and orthotist have expanded from a technologic focus to a more inclusive focus on being a member of the rehabilitation team. Prosthetic and orthotic occupations are a spectrum of specialised health care disciplines that combines a unique blend of clinical and technical competencies to provide assistive products for people with physical impairments.
Patient examination, evaluation, education, and treatment are currently significant responsibilities of practitioners. In addition to treatment planning and the implementation for custom prosthetic and orthotic interventions, professionals may also be responsible for modular or prefabricated devices, soft goods, mobility aids, postural supports, wheelchairs and other assistive products related to prosthetic and orthotic services.
Most technical tasks are completed by technicians who work in the office, in the laboratory, or at an increasing number of central fabrication facilities. The advent and availability of modifiable prefabrication systems have reduced the amount of time that the practitioner spends crafting new prostheses and orthoses.[5]
Prosthetist and orthotist help improve movement and function through the provision of prosthetic and orthotic devices to increase quality of life and optimise function. Prosthetics and orthotics services provide comprehensive care with preventive, promotive, assistive and rehabilitative interventions. They usually involve assessment of potential users and a treatment plan, including the design, manufacture, fitting and delivery of prostheses and orthoses, which support the body and assist with function such as walking, running, grasping and balance. Clinicians manage a wide variety of conditions across the lifespan including limb loss, scoliosis, diabetes, stroke and spinal cord injury.[1]
Resources[edit | edit source]
WHO Standards for Prosthetics and Orthotics. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2017. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
ISPO Education Standards for Prosthetic and Orthotic Occupations. 2018
References [edit | edit source]
see adding references tutorial.
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 WHO standards for prosthetics and orthotics. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2017. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Clarke, L., Puli, L., Ridgewell, E. et al. Regulation of the global orthotist/prosthetist workforce, and what we might learn from allied health professions with international-level regulatory support: a narrative review. Hum Resour Health 19, 83 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-021-00625-9
- ↑ WHO standards for prosthetics and orthotics. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2017. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
- ↑ International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics. ISPO Education Standards for Prosthetic and Orthotic Occupations. 2018
- ↑ Chui KK, Jorge M, Yen SC, Lusardi MM. Orthotics and Prosthetics in Rehabilitation (Fourth Edition).2020
