A few words about words
Description
Collection
Title:
A few words about words
Text:
Following is an excerpt from the introduction to the second edition of the
Atlas of orthotics, BIOMECHANICAL PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATION, compiled by the
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and Published by the C.V. Mosby
Company, 1985.
...............A few words about words. The names of corrective devices and
their makers have been in a state of flux since the time of Nicholas Andry.
His corrective devices were called stays and the people who made them stay
makers. In the nineteenth century, particularly in England, the corrective
devices were called irons, as a brief survey of their appearance will
demonstrate was appropriate. The makers of these then were called iron
mongers. In the United States in the twentieth century, corrective
appliances came to be called braces and brace makers people who produced
them. In today's terminology orthosis is frequently chosen to refer to an
apparatus that provides support or improves function of the movable parts of
the body. These are designed and produced by orthotists. As with other
words, however, this one has also led to some confusion.
In the current volume of the Atlas of orthotics, produced by the American
Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Committee on Prosthetics and Orthotics, the
word ORTHOTICS is a noun referring to the field of knowledge about such
devices and their use. The device itself (also a noun) is an ORTHOSIS. A
room full of these devices would contain many orthoses. If we are thinking
or speaking about a device, the word ORTHOTIC is the adjective of the family.
This custom does not seem to be honored by an increasing number of
publications, however, for the adjective often is used as a noun. It is
hoped that this Atlas will set the example in correct usage of these words,
despite the slipups that may occasionally get by. (End of
excerpt).........................
All professional orthotists or prosthetists need to recognize that words and
their usage play an important role within the medical community. Any
disagreement? If not, then why not promote and use the word orthosis, as
above, in lieu of using orthotic as a noun when, in fact, it really is an
adjective? If we spent a little time educating some folks who don't seem to
understand this concept, including a few podiatrists and their publications,
perhaps there wouldn't be as much time to complain about other things.
Wil Haines, CPO
Atlas of orthotics, BIOMECHANICAL PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATION, compiled by the
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and Published by the C.V. Mosby
Company, 1985.
...............A few words about words. The names of corrective devices and
their makers have been in a state of flux since the time of Nicholas Andry.
His corrective devices were called stays and the people who made them stay
makers. In the nineteenth century, particularly in England, the corrective
devices were called irons, as a brief survey of their appearance will
demonstrate was appropriate. The makers of these then were called iron
mongers. In the United States in the twentieth century, corrective
appliances came to be called braces and brace makers people who produced
them. In today's terminology orthosis is frequently chosen to refer to an
apparatus that provides support or improves function of the movable parts of
the body. These are designed and produced by orthotists. As with other
words, however, this one has also led to some confusion.
In the current volume of the Atlas of orthotics, produced by the American
Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Committee on Prosthetics and Orthotics, the
word ORTHOTICS is a noun referring to the field of knowledge about such
devices and their use. The device itself (also a noun) is an ORTHOSIS. A
room full of these devices would contain many orthoses. If we are thinking
or speaking about a device, the word ORTHOTIC is the adjective of the family.
This custom does not seem to be honored by an increasing number of
publications, however, for the adjective often is used as a noun. It is
hoped that this Atlas will set the example in correct usage of these words,
despite the slipups that may occasionally get by. (End of
excerpt).........................
All professional orthotists or prosthetists need to recognize that words and
their usage play an important role within the medical community. Any
disagreement? If not, then why not promote and use the word orthosis, as
above, in lieu of using orthotic as a noun when, in fact, it really is an
adjective? If we spent a little time educating some folks who don't seem to
understand this concept, including a few podiatrists and their publications,
perhaps there wouldn't be as much time to complain about other things.
Wil Haines, CPO
Citation
“A few words about words,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/215421.
