Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Assistive Technology
What to master
Understand component selection, fitting principles, and functional training for prostheses and orthoses, plus assistive technology assessment. Know the trade-off between stability and energy cost, how socket fit affects comfort and skin integrity, and how orthotic design (three-point pressure, ankle-foot orthosis alignment) controls motion. Be familiar with device categories, maintenance, and user training.
Traps questions use
Questions often test which device feature matches a functional goal - for example, which knee component suits a community ambulator versus a household ambulator. Watch for confusion between prosthetic and orthotic terminology, and for items that ignore skin integrity or residual limb care. Another trap is recommending a device without considering the user's environment, cognition, or caregiver support.
Worked rule of thumb
Match device to function, not to diagnosis. Ask: what does this person need to do, in what environment, with what support? A stable, energy-efficient device that the user can don and maintain independently often beats a technically advanced one they cannot use. Rule of thumb: the best device is the one the user actually wears.