What are the primary tasks the fitter must assist the patient with?

The emphasis on material selection, measuring, and patient education as primary tasks for a fitter highlights the core responsibilities involved in ensuring that patients receive appropriate therapeutic footwear.

Material selection is crucial because different footwear materials can affect comfort and support, particularly for individuals with specialized needs such as diabetes or foot deformities. Proper measurement is vital to ensure the shoes fit correctly, as ill-fitting footwear can lead to complications such as ulcers or other foot problems.

Patient education is equally important, as it involves guiding patients on the features of the therapeutic shoes, how to maintain them, and general foot care. This helps empower patients to take an active role in their foot health and understand the importance of proper footwear.

The other options describe tasks that are not primarily within the scope of a certified therapeutic shoe fitter. Prescription writing and clinical diagnosis fall under the responsibilities of healthcare professionals such as doctors and podiatrists. Product testing and shoe design are also typically outside the fitter's role, which focuses more on fitting and customizing shoes based on established guidelines. Lastly, product sales and marketing are unrelated to the direct patient care responsibilities integral to therapeutic shoe fitting.