IT SEEMS LOGICAL to begin this afternoon's program by trying to answer the question, "Why have a panel on orthetics?" What has taken place in this ancient phase of medical care that deserves and requires a particular emphasis? Actually, there are many things happening in this active field. There are new devices, new materials, new methods of fabrication—the field even has a new name. If orthetics is new, orthotics is even newer! These reasons alone might be enough to warrant this panel, but even more significant than all of these is the newinterestin orthetics. This interest has been shown by engineers and orthotists who are eager to design and fabricate better devices, by educators who are recognizing the need for developing training methods in orthetics, and even by agencies who have indicated a willingness to coordinate and financially support research and development in this field. All of