Growing up with orthotics can shape a person’s life in profound and complex ways. Whether it’s pediatric orthotics used during early childhood or transitioning into adult orthotic and prosthetic care, the emotional terrain that accompanies the physical experience is often overlooked. Orthotics and prosthetics are not just about supporting the body—they’re also about learning how to support the self through identity, resilience, and acceptance. This journey, filled with emotional highs and lows, can evolve into a powerful narrative of self-empowerment and authenticity.
Early Years: Navigating Difference and Discovery
For many children, the journey begins not with words, but with sensations—the rigid embrace of a spinal orthosis, the gentle guidance of a cranial remolding helmet, or the unfamiliar weight of a lower extremity brace. Pediatric orthotics and pediatric prosthetics are essential tools for growth, correcting musculoskeletal conditions, aiding mobility, or preventing long-term complications. But while they serve critical physical needs, they also mark the beginning of an emotional journey where a child is learning, very early on, that their body is different.
That realization can bring confusion, especially when peers begin to notice. The playground, once a place of laughter, can become a stage where stares and questions from other children turn into internalized feelings of embarrassment or shame. Parents and caregivers often try to shield their children from these emotional experiences, emphasizing that their orthotics help them grow strong and healthy. But even with the best intentions, the emotional undercurrent—feeling “other,” longing to be “normal”—persists.
Yet, these early years are also formative in a beautiful way. Children are remarkably adaptive. With the support of compassionate clinicians, loving families, and inclusive environments, many begin to see their orthotic devices not as limitations, but as part of their identity. The bright colors, personalized designs, and empowering language from pediatric care providers help shift the narrative. They learn that orthotics are not signs of brokenness but of courage and individuality.
The Adolescent Shift: Identity, Acceptance, and Assertion
As a child grows into adolescence, the emotional relationship with orthotics becomes more layered. Adolescence is already a turbulent period—filled with hormones, self-doubt, and the desire to fit in. Adding an upper extremity orthosis or a prosthetic leg into this mix complicates self-image, often stirring internal battles between acceptance and resistance.
Teenagers may become hyper-aware of how their orthotics affect their appearance. Some begin to hide their devices under clothing, avoid activities that require them to wear visible supports, or even forgo needed medical appointments out of embarrassment. Peer perception carries tremendous weight during these years, and many feel like their orthotics define them in the eyes of others. Questions like “Why do you wear that?” or assumptions of injury can trigger anxiety or withdrawal.
However, this period also brings a deeper level of consciousness and the beginning of self-advocacy. Adolescents begin to explore their identity in relation to their orthotic needs. They start to understand the importance of spinal health, or how their lower extremity orthotics allow them to participate in sports or dance. Many engage in open conversations about their experiences, especially as inclusive narratives around disability, body diversity, and authenticity gain more visibility in popular culture.
Some discover creative outlets—art, writing, or advocacy—that allow them to express and reframe their relationship with their bodies. Others build friendships with peers who share similar experiences, often through support groups or online communities. This period of struggle often transitions into a phase of reclaiming one’s story: “Yes, I wear orthotics. Yes, I am different. And that difference is powerful.”
Embracing Adulthood: Redefining Strength and Beauty
Adulthood brings with it both freedom and responsibility. For individuals who’ve grown up with orthotics and prosthetics, this phase can feel like a rebirth. No longer under parental guidance or pediatric care, adults must now become their own advocates, navigating insurance systems, seeking out specialized providers for upper extremity or lower extremity support, and making decisions about their ongoing medical care.
Emotionally, this stage can be incredibly empowering. After years of learning to live with physical differences, adults begin to embrace the deeper truth that orthotics have never been barriers—they have been bridges. They’ve allowed them to walk, play, grow, and thrive. That realization transforms how they see themselves. What was once hidden becomes something to be worn with pride.
There’s also a profound sense of self-definition in adulthood. Individuals no longer rely on external validation to understand their worth. Instead, they begin to craft personal narratives rooted in resilience, adaptability, and grace. A cranial remolding helmet from infancy becomes part of a story about overcoming early developmental challenges. A spinal orthosis used in teenage years becomes a symbol of persistence in the face of scoliosis. Prosthetic limbs once seen as mechanical now become extensions of identity—tools of expression, creativity, and independence.
In romantic relationships, professional settings, and community involvement, adults who wear orthotics or prosthetics learn to set boundaries, educate others, and demand accessibility. They embrace fashion that highlights rather than conceals their devices. They speak openly about their experiences in ways that encourage others—especially younger generations—to embrace their journeys without shame.
The Emotional Weight of Expectations and Stigma
Despite the progress and self-empowerment many achieve, the emotional journey doesn’t become linear or easy. Society’s standards of beauty, ability, and productivity still cast long shadows. Microaggressions, ableism, and assumptions about what people with orthotics or prosthetics can or cannot do continue to exist. This can trigger imposter syndrome or even emotional exhaustion, especially in spaces where inclusivity isn’t yet the norm.
Adults who grew up with pediatric orthotics may also experience grief over lost time—memories of missing out on certain childhood experiences, or lingering trauma from past bullying or exclusion. Some may wrestle with questions like: “What would life have been like without this?” or “Am I less capable because of it?”
These thoughts are valid and deserve space. Acknowledging the emotional complexities of living with a medical device is not a sign of weakness—it’s a form of healing. Therapy, peer support, and community groups can be essential in navigating these moments. Many also find solace in creative outlets, where their stories can be shared and validated.
It’s crucial to remember that strength does not mean unshakable optimism. True strength is in vulnerability, in confronting pain and choosing to move forward anyway. And for those who’ve grown up wearing orthotics, every step—literal or emotional—is a testament to that strength.
Celebrating the Journey: Owning Your Story
The emotional journey of growing up with orthotics isn’t about finding a destination where everything feels perfect. It’s about evolving, adapting, and ultimately embracing the fullness of your experience. Orthotics and prosthetics are not just medical tools; they are chapters in a story of survival, growth, and identity.
Whether you began with pediatric orthotics or encountered prosthetic needs later in life, your journey is uniquely yours. It encompasses the earliest memories of cranial correction, the challenge of wearing a spinal brace through puberty, the strength found in every upper extremity movement, and the freedom in every lower extremity stride.
As an adult, your story doesn’t end—it deepens. You have the power to inspire others, advocate for better accessibility, and help shape a world that understands and celebrates difference. You can walk into rooms with confidence, knowing that your presence—orthotics and all—expands the definition of what strength, beauty, and wholeness really look like.
To grow up with orthotics is to learn, over and over again, that your body is not broken. It is evolving. It is supported. It is worthy.
So wear your story boldly. It is the very foundation of your extraordinary journey.
Need a Prosthetic and Orthotic Laboratory Near You?
Prothotic Labratories, Inc. is a family-owned and -operated prosthetics and orthotics specialist based in Farmingdale, New York since 1988. We offer the highest quality of products, services, and patient care for all of your prosthetic and orthotic management needs. We specialize in pediatric prosthetics, but also offer adult products and services as well, such as scoliosis management, creating custom-designed prosthetics for the upper or lower extremities, and much more. We also have extensive experience in the orthotic management of cerebral palsy, arthrogryposis, osteogenesis imperfecta, spinal muscular atrophy, and neuromuscular and idiopathic scoliosis. Give us a call today, or visit us for more information!