Physical Therapist's Involvement

Physical Therapist's Involvement

Robert Schiff

4/29/2004

Hello all listserve members,
    I would like to know other prosthetist's opinions about physical therapists making actual adjustments to prosthetic devices. In particular, what would your feeling be if a therapist wanted to make an actual adjustment to the prosthesis with allen wrenches (i.e. flexion, extension, toe out, abduction, adduction), would you be comfortable with this? To take in a little further, would you instruct the therapist on how to make these adjustments if he or she needed to?

    For those answering YES they would feel comfortable with this and would instruct the therapist:

        What are your feelings of liability with respect to a component failing. Who is liable if the therapist adjusted something and did or did not put loctite. Does your
                relationship with the therapist have any bearing on your decision or would you just instruct any therapist? Are you doing this to remain on good terms with that
                therapist?

    For those answering NO they would not feel comfortable with this and would not instruct the therapist:
        Why wouldn't you? Is it a feeling of therapist infringment on our scope of practice? Is it lack of trust? Or do you just feel that it is just not their job. Would you
                be more inclined to instruct a therapist that you have known for 5 years how to make adjustments? 10 years? 20 years?

All input would be appreciated and confidentially posted on the listserve.

Thanks

Robert Schiff C.P.O., L.P.O.