Orthotics and Prosthetics

SPREADING THE WORD
Several years ago, someone asked, "Where may I find literature on Prosthetics
and Orthotics?" If this person had been from the medical or allied health fields, he
could have been referred to the medical library but the findings would have been
meager. If they were not related to the medical field, to tell them to go to the public
library would have been virtually useless because they would probably find only
some fairy tales of pirates with either a hook or a pegleg.
In 1972 one of the few publications in the fields of prosthetics and orthotics
stated, "Until relatively recently, there was essentially no professional literature to
be found pertaining to the field of prosthetics and orthotics." Why has this been so?
Is it because we have nothing new to tell? I cannot believe that this is so. Every
patient presents a new challenge to the prosthetist or orthotist and other members
of the clinic team, and thus there should be a good deal of material that should be
presented.
Is it because we don't have time? We seem to find time to do most of the things
that we really want to do.
Is it because we are afraid that we may be criticized by some of our colleagues?
This may be true in some sizable proportion.
Is it because we don't know how to write or don't know how to organize the
material to write an educational, informative and interesting article? Perhaps, but
most of us are managing a very successful organization that requires many letters
and other forms of communication.
Many of us use one or more of these reasons for not writing articles that should be
published and thus made available to our colleagues around the world. Very few
useful books, journals, and other publications are available to clinicians in prosthetics
and orthotics, partly because of the rapid rate of change that has been made
during the past couple of decades.
Orthotics and Prosthetics and its predecessors have been a source of reference
for many years, and is now available in many medical libraries. Its quality has
varied, but since 1972 it has developed into a truly professional source of information.
The Editorial Board has had little to do with this, and the bulk of the credit
should go to A. Bennett Wilson, Jr., who has served as the editor during these past
three years.
If members of AOPA, AAOP, and other readers want Orthotics and Prosthetics
to continue as a professional publication, we must prepare and submit articles for
publication. Style is not important. The editorial staff can remedy any lack of style.
The important factor is the presentation of ideas and methods of providing service
that will be useful to fellow practitioners.
It has been a very enlightening experience for me to serve as Chairman of the
Editorial Board for the past two years. The complete cooperation of all members of
the committee, the staff in the Washington office, and the officers of AOPA, AAOP
and ABC have made this job very easy. I wish the new Chairman the same pleasure.
Bert R. Titus, CP.O.
Chairman
Editorial Committee