O&P Encroachment and the Mandela Effect

Professional Encroachment is generally regarded as a real threat by orthotists and prosthetists. The thought that other allied healthcare professionals such as physical and occupational therapists (PTs and OTs), cast technicians, rehabilitation engineers, nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants, podiatrists, and pharmacists are eyeing our small profession as an area for future growth is a unifying fear among O&P clinicians. This becomes more poignant with the sheer size difference between the groups.

The entire O&P market was valued at $6.6 billion in 2022, while PT/OT services were valued at $53.1 billion—eight times larger.^1,2 The American Physical Therapy Association has roughly 100,000 members and the American Occupational Therapy Association has 63,000 members, which is ten and six times larger than O&P respectively.² The Bureau of Labor statistics indicates there are about 9,500 employees that provide O&P services, including roughly 3,500 orthotists and prosthetists certified by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics.^3,4 With their much larger membership, these non-O&P associations can present more organized political clout and funded lobbying efforts to advance their concerns.