The Pillars of Physical Therapy - Orthotists 

Written by Maroun Tarabey

November 18th, 2024

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It’s a hot summer day, and you’re out, competing with fellow athletes in a game of basketball, when all of a sudden, you fall and tear your ACL. Unfortunately, this situation is quite common, but fortunately for you, many resources are available to help you. However, to your surprise, one of the first treatments you get, possibly even before a therapist, is a knee brace — this is the work of orthotists nationwide. The field of orthotics may remain unknown to a large sum of the population, but to those who are active in physical care and sports, their roles provide immense support (literally) to the injured. So, who are these mysterious healthcare workers, and why are they so important?

 

What is an orthotist?

As mentioned in last week’s article, orthotics is the field of physical healthcare that deals directly with the treatment planning and care of injuries or pathologies that require mechanical support. As a result, one might see orthotics working in a varied amount of work settings, such as within hospitals, clinics, laboratories (to conduct biomechanical research related to certain prosthetics), and prosthetic device manufacturing companies, not to mention individual clinics where they may be self-employed.

 

Their roles are diverse yet follow a central theme: they are responsible for designing and creating devices that will physically support injured or diseased musculoskeletal structures, allowing an increase in the mobility of physically disabled patients. Their most common product would be orthopaedic braces, which are devices that will correct, support, and stabilize certain musculoskeletal structures where there is an issue present. In fact, the structures that orthotists will specifically develop, collectively termed an orthosis (“orthoses” when plural), serve to fulfill the following:

 

• Reduce discomfort and pain

• Allow biomechanical support, alignment, and protection

• Attempt to correct and/or accommodate a physical deformity

• Most importantly, increase mobility

 

The orthoses that they work with typically vary depending on the part of the body that is being supported. For instance, several types of orthoses that are commonly used include AFO braces for the ankle/the foot, KAFO braces, which are used to stabilize the foot up to the knee, and a Halo brace, which is a special kind of orthosis used to stabilize the neck (a sophisticated c-collar, if you will)2. 

 

The variety of patients that can typically be seen with orthotists ranges from those with musculoskeletal injuries to those with deformities (e.g. scoliosis), all the way up to neuromuscular disorders. Typically, this large range of patients therefore requires heavy social skills, which are coupled with skills in biology/medicine and physics. All this to say that this specialty relies heavily on unorthodox fields of study that aren’t typically seen in medical practices, making it extremely unique!

 

The path to orthotics, and beyond!

Depending on the country of study, becoming an orthotist can involve different career paths. However, in Canada, it is considered to be on the same level as a Master’s degree, requiring:

• 4-year university degree

• Graduate degree in a prosthetics and orthotics program (2 years)

• Residency (done with a certified orthotist or prosthetist for 2 years)

• Completing a national written and practical credentialing exam3

 

In Canada, there are only two graduate programs that will offer training in orthotics. The first is the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)’s Prosthetics and Orthotics Diploma, which is offered specifically every two years to individuals from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba4. The second program, which is more applicable to Ontarian students, would be the George Brown College (GBC)’s Clinical Methods in Orthotics/Prosthetics program5. This program is offered every year, accepting 10 students (8 in the Toronto-based part of the program, 2 in the Winnipeg-based section of the program). It accepts applicants from across the country.

 

According to the Economic Research Institute, the average salary for an orthotist/prothetist in Ottawa is approximately $105,000 (the number given is an estimate of $104,962)6.

 

The field is also extremely rich in research, with many research initiatives being responsible for advancing the techniques and orthoses used (for instance, the integration of 3D printing and digital design into personalized orthoses for every single patient’s needs)7.

 

All in all, orthotists are healthcare workers who work in a life-changing field dominated by biomechanics and empathetic patient care. What makes their profession even more unique is that they typically are simultaneously a prosthetist and an orthotist, increasing their treatment capacities. As allies of other medical professionals and nurses, they are therefore a fundamental cog in the machine that is your physical rehabilitation.