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Orthotist

An orthotist is a healthcare professional provider who assess, designs, makes, fits, and monitors braces and splints (aka orthoses) for people who need support for body parts that have been damaged or weakened by injury, disease, or disorders of the muscles, nerves, or bones. They work along with physicians, deciding the best suited individualised prescription tailored as per the functional requirements of patients. They also ensure that the braces fit perfectly biomechanically. . The Braces are often named after the body part they support, for example:

• An AFO brace is for ankle-foot
• A KAFO brace is for knee-ankle-foot

Prosthetist

A prosthetist is a healthcare professional provider who assess, designs, makes, fits, and monitors artificial body parts(aka prostheses) for people with disabilities or those who lost their limbs in an accident( or any other underlying cause). This includes artificial legs and arms for people who have had amputations.

Where they Work

Prosthetists and Orthotists work on different cases with adults or children of all ages, including:

• Children born with a limb deficiency or cerebral palsy,
• Adults who have an amputation following an injury or surgery,
• Patients with muscle weakness resulting from a stroke or spinal trauma.
• Patients with foot ulcers, and so on.

The practice of prosthetics & orthotics occurs in different settings, like independent private orthotic & prosthetic centres, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, etc. In addition, these professionals may also work within academia, research and education in universities.

Knowledge and Skills

Prosthetic and orthotic treatment help improve movement and function by providing devices that are customised with specific features. 

With rapid advances in technology and health care, the roles of the prosthetist and orthotist have expanded from a technical focus to a more inclusive focus within the rehabilitation team. Prosthetic and orthotic professionals follow specialised healthcare disciplines that combine clinical and technical requirements to provide assistive products for people with physical impairments. In addition, practitioners have significant responsibilities for patient examination, evaluation, education, and treatment. 

In addition to treatment planning and the implementation of custom prosthetic and orthotic interventions, these professionals can also help the rehabilitation process with prefabricated devices, soft goods, mobility aids, postural supports, wheelchairs and other assistive products. 

The availability of flexible prefabrication systems and 3D printing technology have reduced the time spent on crafting new prostheses and orthoses while increasing availability.

At Xtremity, We have a committed and focused team under the guidance of Dr Arif Khan, Rahul Kashyap, and our team specialises in Orthotics for foot and ankle, knee, hip, and spine support. We also offer the best prosthetics for upper and lower limbs. We are the first pediatric-focused orthotic & prosthetic clinic in UAE. For more info, Contact us!