PTs Are Not Supposed To Memorize the Prosthetic Industry
Spend five minutes looking at the prosthetic industry and you will notice something immediately. It is pretty darn big.
So many companies.
So many products.
So many versions of those products.
And new technology emerging every year.
Feet with different energy storing capabilities, split keel designs, hydraulic feet, microprocessor feet, and adjustable ankles so you can still wear your high heels. Knees ranging from simple mechanical designs to highly advanced computerized and powered models. Multiple socket types, interfaces, and suspension systems. If you tried to memorize it all, you'd need a second brain.
To give you a sense of scale:
More than 40 major prosthetic manufacturers worldwide
Hundreds of prosthetic feet
Dozens of microprocessor knees
Tens of thousands of component combinations (before alignment is even considered)
New products constantly being released
It's a lot. And here's the important part.
PTs aren't expected to know everything. Cue the sigh of relief.
That's the prosthetist's role. Their profession exists to understand the engineering, the specifications, and the endless product variations so the patient gets the right setup.
PTs don't need to be prosthetic encyclopedias. Our job is to understand how prosthetic components influence movement, balance, safety, function, and performance. That means developing clinical reasoning, not product memorization. It means knowing how to ask clear questions and translate technical info into functional decisions.
And unless you truly love prosthetic technology and want to dive into it deeply, spending your time memorizing product catalogs isn't a great use of your energy. The industry will always grow. New versions will always appear. You'll never catch up. You don't need to.
What matters is this:
How does the prosthesis in front of you affect the way this patient moves.
What does this knee or this foot mean for how they navigate stairs or uneven ground.
How does this socket or suspension system affect their ability to manage fit.
What limitations or opportunities does this setup create.
That's the level PTs actually need.
And the good news is that information is easier to access than ever. The internet and AI can give you a fast, basic understanding of a component in seconds. Enough to know how it will influence movement. Enough to have a productive conversation with the prosthetist. Enough to build a solid treatment plan.
You don't need to know everything.
You just need to know what matters and what questions to ask.
The rest is noise.
If you want the clinical reasoning framework I use to train rehab teams across the country, I’m teaching a live 3 hour virtual crash course next week. You don’t need to memorize a catalog to treat with confidence.
The Amputee Rehab Crash Course
When: Thursday, Dec 18th at 6:00 PM CST
Cost: $147
Bonus: Lifetime recording included
Register here:
https://buy.stripe.com/cNi9AUg7RaL35RY5p7asg03