Master of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics
Graduates of the Master of Science in Prosthetics & Orthotics program gain a comprehensive understanding of human movement and anatomy and learn to prescribe functional devices to address functional deficits. Students also develop problem-solving skills, develop lifelong learning habits, and learn about foundational and applied sciences. Students engage in clinical decision-making and research activities while applying the principles of evidence-based practice. Students complete a thesis that will serve as the foundation for their dissertations.
Patients are prescribed prosthetics or orthotics if they have lost limb sensation. While these devices do not help individuals engage in water activities, a range of devices can help them do so. Many prosthetic devices are custom-fit to the patient's unique measurements. For instance, casting is a simple process, but prosthetics require a negative cast. This negative cast is a blueprint for the manufacture of the device. A negative cast can be created by hand or with mechanical devices. Increasing precision has led to better casting procedures.
The purpose of orthotics is to provide mobility, stability, and comfort for the patient. A bionic leg replaces a missing limb or enhances the function of a limb that has been amputated. Both orthoses and prosthetics are important medical devices for people with disabilities. They help patients with a wide range of issues, and can improve their quality of life. While orthoses can help patients improve their quality of life, they can also improve their physical appearance.
The use of sensors for tracking joint torques is one method of assessing the strength of a surgical prosthetic equipment. It requires joint positions and external forces to determine the torque applied to it. Wearable sensors such as accelerometers, magnetometers, and goniometers are also useful for estimating joint torques. Instrumented insoles or measurements of a prosthetic shank can measure ground reaction forces. Additionally, physical switches, force-sensitive resistors, and sensed air pressure in a sealed tube under the foot are used to deliver binary ground contact information.
Whether a patient requires a prosthetic device or an orthotic for a mobility problem, prosthetics and orthotics are important to their quality of life. They allow individuals with physical disabilities to participate in society and the labour market. This reduces their dependency on formal health care and long-term care. People without access to these medical devices are often excluded from their community and locked in a state of poverty. Not having access to these devices increases their burden of disability.
Surgical techniques are essential to stabilize residual neuromusculoskeletal structures. Residual muscle actuation in the amputated joints may still be natively innervated or relocated or fixed to the bones in a nonphysiological manner. Amputations that occur proximally, like those of the foot, may not have residual muscles. This can lead to unstable and high-force situations. Therefore, there are a limited number of assistive devices that use position control.
To get more enlightened on this topic, see this page: https://www.encyclopedia.com/medicine/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/prostheses.