A Step Ahead Prosthetics & Orthotics’ mission is to give our patients the tools, information, and resources necessary to allow them to achieve their goals. We provide healthcare, advocacy, and educational services so that our patients can live life without limitations!
At A Step Ahead Prosthetics, we provide healthcare through designing and fitting customized prostheses for patients of all ages and functional levels. In addition, we coordinate your rehabilitation with your physician and other members of the rehabilitation team. A Step Ahead’s prosthetists have a combined experience of over 30 years.
A Step Ahead Prosthetics is recognized world wide as a leader and innovator in prosthetic design. Through ongoing research and development, the staff of A Step Ahead Prosthetics have developed specializations in many areas including prosthetic socket design for lower extremity and upper extremity amputees, pediatric and congenital anomalies, customized sports prosthetics, micro-processor knees and foot and ankle systems, myo-electric prosthetics, bionic prosthetics and the Skin Tones System ™ custom silicone skin coverings. A Step Ahead Prosthetics also supports a team of over 75 athletes in a variety of sports ranging from world record-holding athletes to Junior Team A Step Ahead athletes.
With our extensive knowledge of prosthetics and health insurance for prosthetics we help you fight for your rights as a patient to obtain the best possible prosthesis, to allow you to live life without limitations!
Learn more about A Step Ahead by viewing our video, "Live Life Without Limitations".
Amy Palmiero-Winters (Below Knee) was featured in an article in the July 25th edition of Newsday. The article focused on her recent accomplishments including her winning an ESPY and becoming the first amputee to finish the Western States ultramarathon. To read the full article, click the following link (Adobe PDF reader required):
A Step Ahead is proud to announce that Amy Palmiero-Winters (Below Knee) been awarded the 2010 ESPY Award in the category of Best Female Athlete with a Disability. This prestigious award was presented to her on July 14th in Los Angeles and constitutes yet another achievement in what has been a momentous year for Amy, who was chosen to be on Team USA at the IAU Ultrarunning World Championships in Brive, France and was selected as the winner of the 2010 AAU Sullivan Award.
Thank you all for your support!
Amy Palmiero-Winters Becomes First Amputee Runner to Complete 100 Mile Trail Race
On June 27, Amy Palmiero-Winters (Below Knee) became the first amputee runner to complete the grueling Western States Ultramarathon. The Western States Endurance Run starts at the ski resort in Squaw Valley, CA and finishes 100.2 miles later in Auburn, CA. The race includes over 18,000 feet of ascent and almost 23,000 feet of descent as it winds through the steep and rough terrain of the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Northern California. Amy completed the race in 27 hours and 43 minutes.
At the finish line, race organizers asked Amy what her thoughts were on the race. She replied, "It was the hardest thing I have ever done." Finishers under thirty hours received a bronze belt buckle that Amy is going to present to the family of Pat Griskus, the first amputee to complete an Ironman triathlon. Pat was killed in a car accident while training for a triathlon in 1987 before he could fulfill his dream of running the Western States 100. You can read more about Amy's accomplishment at Western States at the following link: http://www.sacbee.com/2010/06/28/2853609/ny-woman-becomes-first-amputee.html
Amy Palmiero-Winters on NBC Nightly News
Amy Palmiero-Winters (Below-Knee) was on the June 16th edition of NBC Nightly News to discuss her running, her participation in the 24-Hour Ultramarathon World Championships in Brive, and her life as an amputee. You can watch the video below:
Bryanna Copeland in Long Island Press
Bryanna Copeland (Bilateral Above Knee) was in an article in this month's Long Island Press discussing her daily life, volunteer work with autistic students, and plans for the future. To read the article, click the following link:
A Step Ahead patient Bryanna Copeland was featured on CBS News this past week regarding her life as an amputee. Click below to watch:
Ornichleel Ulysse and A Step Ahead on CBS News
CBS News aired a feature on May 19th regarding Ornichleel Ulysse, a young Haitian girl who was injured in Haiti's devastating earthquake earlier this year and ended up losing her leg. Ornichleel is currently receiving treatment at A Step Ahead, and the CBS News piece discussed the events leading up to her amputation as well as the prosthetic care she is now undergoing.
A Step Ahead Prosthetics was recently featured in a four-page article and on the cover of Newsday, Long Island's most popular newspaper. We now have the entire feature in PDF format; click below to download and read about A Step Ahead's latest endeavors.
This file requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to open. If you do not have Acrobat Reader, click here to download it.
Amy Palmiero-Winters Wins AAU Sullivan Award
In an exclusive ceremony at the New York Athletic Clubon April 14th, the Amateur Athletic Union honored A Step Ahead's Amy Palmiero-Winters (Below Knee) with its highest honor, the James E. Sullivan Award. Presented annually for the past eighty years to the top amateur athlete in the country, the Sullivan Award is often called the "Oscar" of sports awards and has been given in the past to athletes including Michael Phelps, Michelle Kwan, Peyton Manning, Bruce Jenner, and a plethora of others.
Amy was judged from among six finalists as the winner for her accomplishments in ultramarathoning as well as character, leadership, and her dedication to helping younger amputees build confidence and overcome their limitations by introducing them to sports. Her 2009 achievements included beating all able-bodied male and female competitors in the 24-hour Arizona Road Racers 24-hour race (running 130.4 miles in the process) and being named to the USA 24-hour running team which will be competing at the world championships in Brive, France.
Congratulations Amy, from all of us at A Step Ahead!
Team A Step Ahead's Michael LaForgia (Below Knee/Trans-Metatarsal) was the subject of a recent episode of Soul Survivors. Each week, this program focuses on a person who has suffered a tragedy and gone on to be a source of inspiration to others. Michael's episode chronicles his long journey from the time of his diagnosis with meningitis meningococcal and the difficult decision to become a double amputee to his current status as an athlete, marathoner, and leader in the campaign for meningitis awareness.
To watch the full episode, click the link below. Look for "Episodes" on the bottom half of the page and click on Michael's to begin the video.
Kenny Bontz Qualifies for NJ Mid-Amateur Championship
On April 19th, Kenny Bontz (Below Knee) shot a 5-under-77 at Copper Hill Country Club to grab one of fifteen available qualifying spots for the NJ Mid-Amateur Championship. This is especially significant as it marks the first time in the US that an amputee has qualified for a state amateur championship.
Kenny, who missed qualifying by a single shot in 2009, will now be playing in the tournament on May 4th-6th at Galloway National utilizing a special custom-made prosthesis that is designed for the unique demands of golf. The prosthesis, made by A Step Ahead, allows Kenny to turn toward his target for a more natural motion during play.
For more information regarding Kenny's accomplishment, click the following links:
Team A Step Ahead Members Sam Cila (Below Elbow) and Amy Palmiero-Winters (Below Knee), patient Bryanna Copeland (Bilateral Above Knee), and A Step Ahead were featured on Fox 5's popular morning show "Good Day New York" in a segment aired on March 30th. Sam discussed and demonstrated his various prosthetic hands with Good Day's Dr. Sapna Parikh. Bryanna then exhibited the mobility she has achieved with the help of A Step Ahead. Dr. Parikh also spoke with A Step Ahead's Erik Schaffer, C.P., and visited A Step Ahead's Skin Tones department, where she challenged viewers to guess which of Amy's legs was a prosthetic.
To see the entire segment at Fox's website, click the following link:
Before You Buy It, Drive It Try the Newest Technologies in Prosthetics
Prosthetic technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace. A Step Ahead leads the prosthetics industry by offering the most up-to-date, technologically-advanced prosthetics available. By working closely with the leading manufacturers in the prosthetics industry, we are now able to provide a unique opportunity for patients to evaluate the latest prosthetic components under the supervision of A Step Ahead's certified prosthetists.
At our facility, you can now test-drive the full bionic platform from Ossur including the Rheo Knee, Proprio Foot and Ankle System, and the Power Knee. The bionic platform incorporates sophisticated artificial intelligence which learns the users gait pattern to provide an experience superior to traditional prosthetics. Or you can try Otto Bock's popular C-Leg, which utilizes microprocessor-controlled hydraulics that dynamically adapt to all walking speeds in real time. In addition, many types of running feet are available for the user to test.
A Step Ahead offers much more than lower-extremity prosthetics. Myoelectric upper-extremity components are also available for the user to try including the innovative I-Limb by Touch Bionics and the Sensor Speed hand by Otto Bock.
The future in prosthetics is looking bright, with ground-breaking research now being conducted in both osseointegration and neuro-bionics. A Step Ahead is proud to be working directly with the top physicians and manufacturers in these fields on developing the next generation of prosthetics.
A Step Ahead is the industry forerunner in fitting and evaluating prosthetic components including micro-processor knees, foot and ankle systems, upper-extremity myoelectrics, and running feet. Our world-class facility also houses our experienced insurance department and legal team, which have a 98% success rate in winning insurance appeals that involve denial of prosthetic technology. Where others fail, we fight for patients' rights.
Call our office at 516-681-3484 to set up an appointment for a free consultation and to test drive the newest advances in prosthetic technology.
Make sure that you try it before you buy it.
For more information on the newest technology in prosthetics, go to the following links:
A Step Ahead is happy to announce that we are increasing our presence on the Web by taking advantage of popular internet service Facebook. We have recently launched our Facebook page to provide an opportunity for individuals with limb loss, health care professionals, family members and others to have a forum for communication about news and issues that have an impact on amputees. In addition, the Facebook site will allow A Step Ahead to increase its reach to the world providing our regular news and updates.
We welcome your postings and comments and look forward to seeing you there!
Click on a picture below to view samples of our informational brochures:
Educational Booklet
Skintones Pamphlet
NEW! Patient Intake Forms
To expedite your initial consultation at A Step Ahead Prosthetics, you can fill out our intake sheet and forms prior to your appointment. Click the button below and print all the forms. Complete and sign all the paperwork and bring it with you to your first appointment.
These forms require Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have it, click here to download it:
Video Consultations Now Available
A Step Ahead now offers potential patients and current patients around the world live video consultations with our prosthetists via Skype video conferencing. With this technology, we can demonstrate prosthetic designs and components using photographs and direct visualization. In addition, video consultation allows us to more accurately assess a new patient before traveling to our facility in New York, while current patients can discuss and visually demonstrate any issues they may be having to their prosthetist. Anyone with a computer, webcam, and broadband internet connection can take advantage of this exciting new opportunity. For more information and details about how to set up a video consultation, contact our office at (516) 681-3484 or click the following link:
A Step Ahead Prosthetics and Orthotics is dedicated to providing above knee and below knee amputees with the best in prosthetic legs, artificial arms, artificial hands, and artificial limbs. Our staff specializes in c legs, finger prosthesis, flex foot, leg prosthetics, prosthetic arms, prosthetic hands, and other prosthetic limbs and prosthetic appliances.
All Pictures and videos throughout this web site are the property of A Step Ahead Prosthetics & Orthotics. Unauthorized use of these images is strictly prohibited.
