Prosthetics and orthotics are a rapidly expanding and dynamic medical profession. Technically speaking, Prosthetics and Orthotics are not really a separate medical discipline, but rather their common therapeutic objectives join them into a single cohesive discipline. The goal of every patient is to return to daily living as quickly as possible, often with an improved quality of life and minimal discomfort. This has created a new demand for qualified professionals in this booming industry, view prosthetics company in Philadelphia. To meet this growing need, the scope of prosthetics and orthotics surgery has expanded dramatically in recent years with more study, research and greater compassion for those afflicted by foot and ankle disorders.
New York University in New York, NY has a number of online PhD programs in orthopedics and prosthetics available. Students must enroll in a doctorate program at New York University prior to beginning the Doctor of Education in Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, check prosthetics company in NewJersey. This doctorate program tracks one's clinical interests and includes core courses in biology, anatomy, nursing, physical therapy, pharmacology, radiology, elective courses in both clinical and research areas, and supervision by practitioners with previous medical education and experience in treating patients with physical impairments or disabilities. Students complete their coursework at New York University and then take up residency in the region covering orthopedics and prosthetics in New York City.
At the undergraduate level, students can pursue a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy or a Bachelor of Arts in Science. Both bachelor degree programs will require clinical training in either orthopedics or prosthetics before graduation, however. The Bachelor of Science degree focuses on biological sciences, while the Bachelor of Arts focuses more on teaching, management and student career development.
The most common way to accomplish permanent orthosis is through replacement techniques such as metal titanium screw, gel, rod, screws and plates, silicone, and high-intensity focused light therapy. Patients seeking these procedures undergo months of intense physical therapy to fully stretch and lengthen the muscles in the body part being prosthetically lengthened. Another method for lengthening a body part involves the use of intervertebral disc or intervertebral osteotomy which inserts an artificial vertebral body into the offending body part, thereby forcing it to fully lengthen the adjacent muscle. In addition to surgery, the other two techniques, besides stretching and lengthening, can also be achieved through immobilization or applying an interventional device to an offending body part. These treatments are classified according to the patient's needs, which can also be customized through a comprehensive physical therapy plan.
Since most people only need partial prosthesis, the most common type of surgical prosthetics and orthotics used is braces, supports, and crutches. Braces are the most common method because they are the most affordable and easiest to use. They do not require a great deal of work on the patient's part to maintain and fit properly and, since they are so easy to use, many patients prefer them to natural limbs and body parts.
The third type of prosthetic limbs are those that are artificial but are still considered to be prosthetic. These include such items as artificial legs, arms, hands, eyes, and the like. Artificial limbs provide more than enough function for most people who desire them, although some people will always prefer to use their own limbs, sometimes for emotional as well as functional reasons. This is especially true of those who lost both their legs due to severe injury, disease, or aging and are now unable to get back on their feet. Read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthotics
