Glossary
Orthotist and Prosthetist Terms & Vocabulary
15 essential orthotist and prosthetist terms with plain-English definitions: the vocabulary you’ll hear in training and on day one.
Key orthotist and prosthetist vocabulary
These 15 terms come up constantly in orthotist and prosthetist training, on the job and in interviews. Knowing them helps you follow instructions, document accurately and sound prepared.
- ABC
- American Board for Certification.
- AFO
- Ankle-foot orthosis.
- Alignment
- Positioning prosthetic parts.
- Casting
- Making a mold.
- Check socket
- A test socket.
- Gait
- Walking pattern.
- KAFO
- Knee-ankle-foot orthosis.
- Microprocessor knee
- Computer-controlled prosthetic knee.
- Myoelectric
- Controlled by muscle signals.
- Orthosis
- A brace.
- Pressure point
- Area of high pressure.
- Prosthesis
- An artificial limb.
- Residual limb
- Remaining part of a limb.
- Scoliosis brace
- Spinal orthosis.
- Socket
- Part of a prosthesis that fits the limb.
Practice these terms
Test yourself with the free Orthotist and Prosthetist practice test: it includes vocabulary questions built from this list. For a complete course, see Orthotist and Prosthetist training.
Browse terms from every career in our career glossary.