Prosthetist

In olden times, the only options for a person who lost a limb would be a wooden stump and a career change involving a parrot and treasure hunts on the seven seas. Thankfully, technology and medicine (and career planning) have improved greatly, and there are more options now when it comes to replacing missing body parts. As a Prosthetist, you design and craft new appendages for patients who have lost limbs due to illnesses, accidents, or birth defects.

A Prosthetist starts by taking measurements and making detailed reports on everything from your patient’s muscle tone to their range of motion. The reason for all these pre-fitting measurements is not only so you can create a limb that functions much the same as a natural one would, but also to keep track of how the person grows. Just as a natural limb changes in size over time, so should a prosthetic.

As the person ages, the Prosthetist changes the shape, size, and appearance of the limb during periodic re-fittings. The number of new prosthetic limbs required depends on things like the age of the patient (a growing child will require more new legs than an older adult), as well as the comfort of the patient.

Fit and comfort are two big considerations when making prosthetics. You meet with patients multiple times to ensure that the alignment, look, and feel are exactly what they want. If adjustments are needed, you make tiny, precise changes using a mix of high-tech computer programs and everyday tools like hammers and drills.