Differences between physical therapists and prosthetist-orthotists in their perception of and involvement in follow-up of lower limb orthoses

Abstract

A self-administered survey was conducted with the aim to clarify the differences between the physical therapists and the prosthetists and orthotists in their perception of and involvement in the follow-up of lower limb orthoses. Respondents among prosthetists and orthotists were recruited by sending documents requesting research to manufacturers of prostheses and orthoses nationwide, and respondents among physical therapists were recruited using the snowball sampling method. Responses were obtained from 174 prosthetists and orthotists and from 224 physical therapists. From the responses, cross-tabulation was performed and the chi-square test was used to compare the contents of responses. Only approximately 10% of the respondents in both professions provided information concerning the lower limb orthoses to care managers. Approximately 90% of the respondents recognized that the environment for deepening collaboration with other professions was insufficient. The survey also showed that a large percentage of respondents did not use written explanations regarding the lower limb orthoses.