COC Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield COC facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test measures which aspect of functional mobility? → Time to rise from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn, return, and sit
2. Why is it important to educate patients on prosthetic care? → It ensures the patient knows how to properly use, maintain, and care for the prosthesis.
3. The ABC (American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics) requires practitioners to earn continuing education units (CEUs) to: → Maintain board certification and ensure ongoing competency
4. Upper extremity prosthesis training typically progresses in which order? → Controls training → use training → activity-specific training
5. Why is it important to document orthotic and prosthetic care? → It helps track patient progress and ensures legal and regulatory compliance.
6. Thermoplastic materials used for custom orthotics are typically formed at temperatures between: → 150–180°F (65–82°C)
7. An O&P practitioner's duty of care to a patient includes which of the following obligations? → Providing competent care consistent with accepted professional standards
8. What does the acronym PDAC stand for in the context of O&P billing? → Pricing, Data Analysis and Coding
9. Which structure provides the primary static restraint against anterior tibial translation in the knee? → Anterior cruciate ligament
10. Which nerve innervates the intrinsic muscles of the foot responsible for toe flexion? → Medial plantar nerve
11. Which of the following joints is considered the 'key link' in the kinetic chain for transferring force from the foot to the hip? → Knee joint
12. K-level classification is primarily used to determine prosthetic prescription by predicting: → Functional rehabilitation potential and activity level
13. In a transtibial amputation, which residual limb muscle imbalance is most common without surgical correction? → Plantarflexion contracture from gastrocnemius dominance
14. Why is clinical application important in orthotic and prosthetic care? → It ensures that the device functions well and meets the patient's needs.
15. Which bony landmark serves as the primary weight-bearing contact point of the calcaneus during standing? → Calcaneal tuberosity (medial and lateral processes)
16. Which federal act establishes the foundation for protection against discrimination for patients with disabilities seeking O&P services? → Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
17. In an O&P practice, informed consent documentation should include which key elements? → Nature of proposed device, risks, benefits, alternatives, and patient's right to refuse
18. Why is patient education important during the prosthetic fitting process? → It ensures the patient can properly care for and maintain the prosthetic.
19. Creep in thermoplastic orthotic materials refers to: → Slow permanent deformation under sustained load over time
20. Vacuum-assisted socket suspension (VASS) improves suspension primarily by: → Creating negative pressure between the liner and socket wall
21. Prior authorization for a prosthetic device from Medicare is required primarily to: → Verify medical necessity and ensure reimbursement eligibility before fabrication
22. What role does CAD (Computer-Aided Design) play in prosthetic and orthotic design? → It helps create precise digital models for better accuracy and customization.
23. What is the significance of following industry regulations in orthotic and prosthetic practice? → It ensures the devices are safe and meet quality standards.
24. Which standardized test is specifically designed to assess balance confidence in persons with lower extremity amputation? → Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale
25. What is the primary advantage of using titanium over steel in prosthetic structural components? → Higher strength-to-weight ratio
26. The Amputee Mobility Predictor (AMP) is administered: → Without a prosthesis to establish baseline functional capacity
27. Which document must a Medicare beneficiary sign if an O&P item may not be covered by Medicare? → Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN)
28. What is the primary goal of pre-prosthetic rehabilitation following lower limb amputation? → Residual limb conditioning, contracture prevention, and upper body strengthening
29. What is the importance of accurate measurements in prosthetic fabrication? → They ensure the prosthesis fits properly, ensuring comfort and functionality.
30. Excessive lumbar lordosis in a transfemoral prosthetic user most commonly indicates: → Hip flexion contracture not accommodated by socket flexion