As used in this chapter:
1. “Board” means the board of podiatry.
2. “Orthosis” means a custom-fabricated or custom-fitted brace or support designed
to provide for alignment, correction, or prevention of neuromuscular or musculoskeletal
dysfunction, disease, injury, or deformity. “Orthosis” does not include fabric or elastic
supports, corsets, arch supports, low temperature plastic splints, trusses, elastic hose, canes,
crutches, soft cervical collars, dental appliances, or other similar devices carried in stock
and sold as “over-the-counter” items by a drug store, department store, corset shop, or
surgical supply facility.
3. “Orthotic and prosthetic education program” means a course of instruction accredited
by the commission on accreditation of allied health education programs, consisting of both
of the following:
a. A basic curriculum of college level instruction in math, physics, biology, chemistry, and
psychology.
b. A specific curriculum in orthotic or prosthetic courses, including but not limited to:
(1) Lectures covering pertinent anatomy, biomechanics, pathomechanics,
prosthetic-orthoticcomponentsandmaterials, trainingandfunctionalcapabilities, prosthetic
or orthotic performance evaluation, prescription considerations, etiology of amputations
and disease processes necessitating prosthetic or orthotic use, and medical management.
(2) Subject matter related to pediatric and geriatric problems.
(3) Instruction in acute care techniques, such as immediate and early post-surgical
prosthetics and fracture bracing techniques.
(4) Lectures, demonstrations, and laboratory experiences related to the entire process of
measuring, casting, fitting, fabricating, aligning, and completing prostheses or orthoses.
4. “Orthotic and prosthetic scope of practice” means a list of tasks, with relative weight
given to such factors as importance, criticality, and frequency, based on nationally accepted
standards of orthotic and prosthetic care as outlined by the American board for certification
in orthotics, prosthetics, and pedorthics, incorporated.
5. “Orthotics” means the science and practice of evaluating, measuring, designing,
fabricating, assembling, fitting, adjusting, or servicing an orthosis under an order from a
licensed physician or podiatric physician for the correction or alleviation of neuromuscular
or musculoskeletal dysfunction, disease, injury, or deformity.
6. “Orthotist” means a health care professional, specifically educated and trained in
orthotic patient care, who measures, designs, fabricates, fits, or services orthoses and may
§148F.2, ORTHOTICS, PROSTHETICS, AND PEDORTHICS 2
assist in the formulation of the order and treatment plan of orthoses for the support or
correction of disabilities caused by neuromusculoskeletal diseases, injuries, or deformities.
7. “Pedorthic device” means therapeutic shoes, such as diabetic shoes and inserts, shoe
modifications made for therapeutic purposes, below-the-ankle partial foot prostheses, and
foot orthoses for use at the ankle or below. The term also includes subtalar-control foot
orthoses designed to manage the function of the anatomy by controlling the range of motion
of the subtalar joint. Excluding pedorthic devices which are footwear, the proximal height
of a custom pedorthic device does not extend beyond the junction of the gastrocnemius and
the Achilles tendon. “Pedorthic device” does not include nontherapeutic inlays or footwear
regardless of method of manufacture; unmodified, nontherapeutic over-the-counter shoes; or
prefabricated foot care products.
8. “Pedorthic education program” means an educational program approved by the
national commission on orthotic and prosthetic education consisting of all of the following:
a. A basic curriculum of instruction in foot-related pathology of diseases, anatomy, and
biomechanics.
b. A specific curriculum in pedorthic courses, including lectures covering shoes, foot
orthoses, and shoe modifications, pedorthic components and materials, training and
functional capabilities, pedorthic performance evaluation, prescription considerations,
etiology of disease processes necessitating use of pedorthic devices, medical management,
subject matter related to pediatric and geriatric problems, and lectures, demonstrations,
and laboratory experiences related to the entire process of measuring and casting, fitting,
fabricating, aligning, and completing pedorthic devices.
9. “Pedorthic scope of practice” means a list of tasks with relative weight given to such
factors as importance, criticality, and frequency based on nationally accepted standards of
pedorthic care as outlined by the American board for certification in orthotics, prosthetics,
and pedorthics, incorporated.
10. “Pedorthics” means the science and practice of evaluating, measuring, designing,
fabricating, assembling, fitting, adjusting, or servicing a pedorthic device under an order
from a licensed physician or podiatric physician for the correction or alleviation of
neuromuscular or musculoskeletal dysfunction, disease, injury, or deformity.
11. “Pedorthist” means a health care professional, specifically educated and trained in
pedorthic patient care, who measures, designs, fabricates, fits, or services pedorthic devices
and may assist in the formulation of the order and treatment plan of pedorthic devices for
the support or correction of disabilities caused by neuromusculoskeletal diseases, injuries,
or deformities.
12. “Prosthesis” means an artificial medical device that is not surgically implanted and
that is used to replace a missing limb, appendage, or any other external human body part
including an artificial limb, hand, or foot.
13. “Prosthetics” means the science and practice of evaluating, measuring, designing,
fabricating, assembling, fitting, adjusting, or servicing a prosthesis under an order from a
licensed physician.
14. “Prosthetist” means a health care professional, specifically educated and trained
in prosthetic patient care, who measures, designs, fabricates, fits, or services prostheses
and may assist in the formulation of the order and treatment plan of prostheses for the
replacement of external parts of the human body lost due to amputation or congenital
deformities or absences.
15. “Residency” means an approved supervised program of a minimum duration of one
year to acquire practical clinical training in orthotics or prosthetics in a patient care setting.
16. “Resident” means a person who has completed an education program in either
orthotics or prosthetics and is continuing the person’s clinical education in a residency
accredited by the national commission on orthotic and prosthetic education.