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Prosthetist / Orthotist
Designs and fits artificial limbs and supportive braces for people with physical disabilities.
Did you know?
The first computer-controlled prosthetic knee, Blatchford's Intelligent Prosthesis, was released in Britain in 1993 and made walking feel and look more natural.
How subjects help
- Biology: Check how skin and muscle on a limb react to pressure so a new leg fits comfortably.
- Physics: Balance forces so an artificial leg lets someone walk smoothly without tipping.
- Engineering: Build joints, sockets and springs that bend and flex like a real knee or ankle.
- Art & Design: Sculpt and shape a socket or brace that fits one person's body exactly.
A famous name
Ambroise Paré: French surgeon who designed pioneering mechanical artificial hands and legs in the 1500s.
Try it yourself: Design something easier to hold
- Put on an oven glove and try to pick up and use a spoon. This is a little like having stiff, sore hands.
- Make the handle thicker and softer by wrapping it with a sponge or towel and taping it.
- Try again with the glove on. Is it easier? What could be even better?
- Think of an older relative. What else at home could be redesigned to be easier for them to use?
Prosthetists and designers of technology for older people fit their designs to one person's body and needs, then test and adjust.
Also try: Count your breaths before and after exercise.
Known for it in
USA, Germany, Iceland, UK, Australia