January Newsletter Vol. 7 Issue 1
A Look Back at 2009The Year In Review Touro College Physical Therapy Class Visits A Step Ahead
The Touro College Doctoral program in Physical Therapy spent a half day at A Step Ahead learning about the latest in prosthetic technologies and socket designs for lower- and upper-extremity amputees.
| | Life casting of Dr. Bob Trioano’s hand |
On March 27, twenty-two students from the Touro P.T. school were provided with an information-filled lecture, tour, and demonstration of the services of A Step Ahead. Thanks go out to Sam Cila (below elbow), Antoinette Dorazio (above knee), Amy Palmiero-Winters (below knee) and Craig Pratka (above knee) for speaking with the class and demonstrating how they live life without limitations. Thanks also to Professor Bob Trioano, DPT, CHT, chair of the DPT program at the Bay Shore campus of Touro College for arranging this class visit.
Iraqi War Veteran Restores Function and Ends Up On Sesame Street Sam Cila (below elbow) of Riverhead, New York joined the New York National Guard shortly after the September 11th attacks. On July 4, 2005, Sam was wounded in an IED blast while on patrol just outside of the Green Zone in Baghdad. Within days of his injury, Sam was evacuated to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. where he underwent more than forty surgeries. The severe blast wounds Sam sustained to the left side of his body left him with limited left arm mobility and no use of his left hand. After consultations with physicians and the staff of A Step Ahead Prosthetics, Sam made the decision to undergo amputation of his left hand.
In January, Sam received his first myo-electric prostheses which included the I-Limb and Sensor Speed hands. Later in the year Sam and A Step Ahead Prosthetics were featured in a Sesame Street special entitled "Coming Home," which was about military families coping with an injured parent.
First Complete Double-Leg Amputee to Finish a Marathon John Tartaglio (Bilateral Hip Disarticulation) ran the NYC Marathon on November 1 and became the first complete double-leg amputee to run a marathon finishing in fifteen hours and fifty nine minutes. Congratulations go out to John on this amazing achievement.
A Step Ahead Prosthetics & Mobility Physical Therapy Launch "Active Amputee Program" In order to promote a more active lifestyle for all of the patients at A Step Ahead Prosthetics, A Step Ahead and Mobility Physical Therapy began the "Active Amputee Program." The goal of this program is to promote physical activity for all patients with limb loss regardless of age, level of amputation, or medical condition. Research shows that an active physical lifestyle leads to a healthier life. For individuals with limb loss, it is essential to maintain a high level of physical conditioning to achieve and maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. A Step Ahead Prosthetics and Mobility Physical Therapy's staff will design an active lifestyle program with customized exercises based on your individual needs and goals.
Captain Kimberly Fawcett (above knee), Special Advisor to the Chief of Military Personnel with the Canadian Armed Services, came to A Step Ahead for two weeks in June for new prosthetics. Captain Fawcett was injured in a motor vehicle accident in 2006 while on duty in Canada. Following recovery from her injuries, she returned to full active duty in Afghanistan.
Sandy Dukat Shatters Above Knee Marathon World Record By More Then 45 Minutes Paralympic athlete Sandy Dukat (above knee) of Denver, Colorado shattered the world record for female above knee amputees at the PF Chang's Rock n Roll Marathon in Phoenix Arizona. On Sunday January 18th, Sandy, a proud member of Team A Step Ahead, took on a new athletic challenge, running her first marathon in a time of 4:40:46 and breaking the previous above knee record of 5:27:04 held by another Team A Step Ahead athlete, Sarah Reinersten.
2009 Patients in the News
Rachel Grusse (bilateral below knee) was featured in a Hartford Courant newspaper article highlighting her four-year career on the Glastonbury High School swimming team. Rachel has been a competitive swimmer since she was ten, and first learned how to swim at the age of two. To read the story from the Hartford Courant go to: http://www.courant.com/sports/other/hc-ap-ct-fea-leglessswimmeoct04,0,2947239.story
A story about Jessica Nesin (above knee) was in a new quarterly online publication of the Amputee Coalition of America called "Pebbles: You Can Be The Pebble in the Pond." Jessica's monetary donation to the ACA and the donation of her old prosthetics to Limbs for Life were highlighted in this story: http://www.amputee-coalition.org/newsletters/pebbles/v01i03/ripples.html
Paddy Rossbach (below knee), former president and CEO of the Amputee Coalition of America, was honored at the Harvard Club in New York City on October 8th. Paddy had the A.C.A. annual summer youth camp named in her honor for her work with children who have limb loss. The summer camp will now be known as the Amputee Coalition of America's Paddy Rossbach Youth Camp. To read the ACA press release, go to: http://www.amputee-coalition.org/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=1173 Sarah's recently published book "In a Single Bound" is available through many online retailers and major bookstores.
Kenny Bontz (above knee) continues to burn up the golf course with great scores, winning his club championship at the Jumping Brook Country Club in Neptune, NJ. Kenny is working hard to become the first amputee golfer to qualify for a state amateur golf tournament, a goal he just missed last year. Read the story about Kenny in the Asbury Park Press: http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009908190362
Jean Draper (below knee), one of the newer members of Team A Step Ahead, was featured in two stories in the Daily Herald, a suburban Chicago newspaper. The two articles focused on Jean's participation in the New York City triathlon:
Gabriel Sheena (Van Ness Turnoplasty), a senior at Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan was featured in The Detroit Free Press in a story about his high school wrestling career. Gabe is the captain of his school wrestling team as well as a scholar-athlete. To read the complete story about Gabe go to: http://www.freep.com/article/20090215/HSS1201/902150463/1048
Amy Palmiero-Winters (below knee) was named USA Track and Field's Athlete of the Week for the week of October 21st. Amy's winning time of 18 hours and 54 minutes in the Heartland 100 Ultramarathon in Kansas on October 11th was the second-fastest time among women in the history of the race. Her status as Athlete of the Week places her in the company of many other world-class runners and track and field athletes in the U.S. To read this article on the USATF's website, click the following link: http://www.usatf.org/news/view.aspx?duid=USATF_2009_10_21_13_10_28
Amy Palmiero-Winters Finishes First Overall in Ultramarathon, Qualifies for US World Championship Team For the first time in the history of competitive distance running, an athlete with a prosthetic leg has won the overall title in a race. On January 1st, 2010, below-the-knee amputee and Team A Step Ahead member Amy Palmiero-Winters took first place at the Arizona Road Racers "Run to the Future" twenty-four-hour ultramarathon. Running 217 laps of a certified six-tenths of a mile course over twenty-four hours, Amy completed 130.4 miles to place first among all runners, both male and female. Starting at nine AM on December 31st, 2009 and finishing at nine AM on New Years' Day at the Victory Lane Sports Complex in Glendale, Arizona, Amy beat the overall male winner by fourteen miles and bettered the second-place female finisher by over thirty-six miles. Based on this performance, Amy qualified for the United States able-bodied twenty-four-hour run team that will be competing at the world championship in Brive, France in May 2010. This is the first time an amputee runner will be running against able-bodied counterparts on a world championship team.
This amazing accomplishment caps off a very busy and successful year for Amy which included running five fifty-mile trail runs as part of the North Face Challenge, two 100-mile ultramarathons which qualify her for the Western States Trail run in 2010, and fulfilling her requirements for the Adventure CORPS Badwater Ultramarathon. At the Heartland 100-mile trail run in Cassoday, Kansas, Amy finished first-place overall female, making her the first amputee to win a 100-mile race. For these endeavors, Amy was recognized by USA track and field as the athlete of the week in October More recently, she was listed by the Washington Times as one of the top ten runners of the decade. She has proven that despite physical challenges, family, and work commitments, if you believe that you can do something, you can.
Before You Buy It, Drive It
Try the Newest Technologies in ProstheticsProsthetic 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:
http://www.ottobock.com/cps/rde/xchg/SID-3F574DD1-0360A40B/ob_com_en/hs.xsl/1913.html
http://www.ossur.com/?PageID=12729
http://www.touchbionics.com/i-LIMB
http://www.ossur.com/pages/13916 
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| Proprio Foot and Ankle
System
| i-Limb by Touch Bionics
| C-Leg Microprocessor Knee |
Junior Team A Step Ahead Winter Day in N.Y.C.
On December 28th, fourteen Junior Team A Step Ahead members finished out 2009 with a trip to one of New York City's landmarks, Rockefeller Center. The team laced up their skates and twirled away at the ice skating rink, one of NYC's most celebrated traditions.
Following ice-skating and lunch, the team traveled to the Trapeze School of New York located on the west side of Manhattan. At the school they learned to fly with the trapeze, a challenging environment where the team as a whole surpassed all of their limitations.
Connor Tucciarone (above knee), Rachel Grusse (bilateral below knee), Larry Mantilla (above knee), Davonni Baboolal (below knee), Sofia Castillo (above knee), Cate Hughes (below knee), Tara Dunfee (below knee), James Lozano (bilateral below knee), Victoria Cutrone-Foley (above knee), Alexandria Capelleni (above knee), Julia Brietenbach (above knee), Jake Lillis (bilateral above knee), Anthony Desano (above knee), and Wil Kehler (Van Ness Turnoplasty) all enjoyed a great day in New York City.
Antoinette Dorazio (above knee), Craig Pratka (above knee), and Amy Palmiero-Winters (below knee) assisted the junior team on this fun filled day.
"Yesterday was an amazing day for everyone involved. I applaud the team for their willingness to try something new and the courage they had to put aside some of their fears." -Amy Palmiero-Winters.
Annual ASPIRE 10K & 5K RACE & Kids 1/2 Mile Fun Run
The 33rd annual ASPIRE ten kilometer race will be held on Saturday, March 27 at 9:00 am in Plainview, Long Island. Team A Step Ahead is looking forward to the largest turnout yet for this annual fundraising event.
This race is one of the primary fundraising events of the year for the ASPIRE organization. As you may know, for many years ASPIRE has supported and funded programs for individuals with limb loss who are seeking to improve their lives through physical activity and sports. Your participation in this event demonstrates both the successes of ASPIRE as well as the continuing need to raise funds for these programs. ASPIRE is planning an expanded program this year with an emphasis on events and programs for children with limb loss.
A Step Ahead's facility and staff are available to assist you in your training for this race. Please let us know if you will be there as an active participate. If you are unable to participate in the race the athletes could still use your support on the day of the race.
The ASPIRE race includes a 10 kilometer (6.2 mile) event; amputees will also have the option of a 5K (3.1 mile) race, and children under 12 can participate in a 1/2 mile "fun run." For more information on how to enter the race or to just be part of the event, please contact our office at 516-681-3484.
First Amputee Runner to Qualify for Western States Endurance Run
Based on her completion of five 50-mile ultramarathon trail runs and two 100-mile ultramarathons this year, below-knee amputee Amy Palmiero-Winters became the first amputee runner to qualify for the Western States Endurance Run. The Western States Run is held in 2010 on June 26-27. Amy's accomplishments in ultramarathons this year included winning first place overall female at the Heartland 100 in Kansas with a time of 18:54 and placing fourth place overall female at the North Face 50 Mile Endurance Challenge in Madison, Wisconsin with a time of 8:43.
Amy Palmiero-Winters Named One of the Top Ten Runners of the Decade
Award winning journalist Karla Brunning recognized Amy Palmerio Winters (below-knee) as one of the top ten runners of the decade in an article in the Washington Times. Amy is in the top ten with an elite class of athletes including multiple world and Olympic record holders like Usain Blot, Paula Radcliffe and Haile Gebrselassie. To read the complete article, go to: http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/run-karla-run/2009/dec/23/best-runners-decade/
Team A Step Ahead Events for 2010
* ASPIRE 10K March 27th
* Ironman 70.3 Mooseman June 6th
* Achilles Hope & Possibility 5M June
* Nautica New York City Triathlon July 18th
* Cancun Ironman 70.3 September 19th
Junior Team A Step Ahead Events for 2010
* Ski Trip to the Adirondacks March
* Ice-Climbing March
* ASPIRE 10K March 27th
* Hope & Possibility 5 mile run Central Park June
* Empire State Games Long Island June 3-5
* Volunteer at the NYC Triathlon July 18th
* SheRox Triathlon August 1st
* Camping/Rock Climbing New Paltz, N.Y. August
* Westchester Triathlon September 19th
* NYC Marathon PowerBar GelZone November 7th
The ASPIRE Support Group meeting is on Wednesday January 28th at 6pm at the Hospital for Special Surgery located at 535 East 70th Street, NY. For more information about the ASPIRE support group meeting contact Charlie Steele at charlieatl@aol.com or (212) 877-7050.
New York-Presbyterian Hospital Amputee Education and Support Group meets on the first Friday of every month from 10 am to 12 noon at the Neurological Institute, 8th Floor North classroom (PT and OT Department) 710 W. 168th Street, contact Sharon Clark at 212-305-3964.
Rusk Rehab Amputee Support Group (34th Street/1st avenue) meets Thursday, December 17th at 6:00 PM. For more information about the Rusk Rehab Support Group contact Dr. Jeff Heckman at 631-873-6223 or by email at jtheckman@yahoo.com
The Long Island Amputee Support Group meets the first Saturday of each month at South Side Hospital, 301 East Main Street in Bayshore. Contact Jodi Adler at 631-968-3330.
For more information on amputee support groups around the country go to http://www.amputee-coalition.org/npn_about.html
New Indoor Mobility Clinic
In association with members from the N.Y.C. Parks and Recreation department, the NYU Amputee Support Program will be hosting an Indoor Amputee Mobility Clinic in Manhattan. The free indoor mobility clinic is open to amputees of all ages and ability levels who are interested in learning how to improve their walking, jogging or more advanced mobility skills. The clinic will be held at Recreation Center 54 on 54th St. between 1st and 2nd Ave in Manhattan from 7-9 p.m. on the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month from 7-9 pm. Opening night for the clinic will be on January 18th, 2010.
Staying Active with Winter Sports
Skiing, snow boarding, and ice skating are fun winter sports. At A Step Ahead, we can custom align your prosthesis so you can enjoy these activities safely. In addition to alignment, we custom fabricate knee orthoses and stump helmets to protect your residual limb. Knee braces are essential for below the knee amputees who ski. While skiing, your knee will be subjected to side to side forces that will place excessive strain on your knee joint. A custom brace can be fabricated to attach to your prosthesis and will provide improved side to side stability reducing the risk of injury to your knee.  | Below Knee Custom Ski Prosthesis
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If you are an above the knee amputee, skiing without your prosthesis is common. A stump helmet is a device that will encompass and protect your residual limb if you fall. They are designed to reduce the risk of bruising and possible fractures of the bone in your residual limb. Some above knee amputees are beginning to ski with a prosthesis using a specialized prosthetic knee called the XT9. The XT9 Energy Storing Prosthetic Knee, made by Symbiotechs USA, LLC for high activity AK amputees, is the first prosthesis designed to enable AK amputees to enjoy extreme sports and an active life at the top level. Thanks to an aerospace-grade, lightweight knee frame and other space-age materials and components, the XT9 prosthetic knee can withstand the forces generated in extreme sports by even the most active amputees. For more information on the XT9 knee, call our office or go to the Symbiotechs website: http://xt-9.com/ If you are gearing up for winter sports or are interested in a custom prosthesis for any sport, call our office to speak to one of our prosthetists. 
| | Above Knee XT-9 Custom Ski Prosthesis |
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