Overview of the Prosthetic World

No one ever thinks he or she is going to need the services of a prosthetist. So it’s common to know little if anything about what one does. We hope this part of our website is a good place to learn more.

Unlike most medical fields, a prosthetist’s skill is both Art and Science.

Historically, the success of a prosthesis was measured by how closely it resembled a human arm or leg. Among advanced practitioners of Prosthetic Art & Science, this has changed radically. Although cosmetic realism is still important, the emphasis is now on robust functionality rather than disguising one’s limb loss or difference.

Good examples of this trend are the specialized prostheses developed for recreational and competitive runners. These technologically advanced artificial limbs make no apologies for their highly engineered appearance. Indeed, they flaunt it—as in “form follows function.”