 May Newsletter - Vol. 8 Issue 5
A Step Ahead patients and wounded warriors Sam Cila (Below Elbow) and Andy Hatcher (Below Knee) joined twelve other injured veterans and former president George W. Bush on a three-day, 100-kilometer bike ride in Big Bend, Texas from April 25-27.
Prosthetic Art of the Month
Art is an expression of the creator's inner-self. Art has no boundaries and is understood through all languages. Art is passion and a way we view the world.
The prosthetics staff at A Step Ahead helped bring Paul Esposito’s personal design to both of his above knee prostheses to life. The custom sockets represent his personal style. For more information on how our prosthetic staff can work with you to personalize your prosthesis, call us at 516-681-3484.
Otto Bock Announces GENIUM Prosthetic Knee
 World-renowned prosthetics manufacturer Otto Bock has just announced the launch of its newest, most advanced microprocessor knee: the GENIUM.
The GENIUM closely mimics a natural gait, reducing the mental effort required of users when changing speeds, walking up or downstairs, avoiding obstacles, and walking backwards. It also offers a run time of up to five days on a single charge and offers numerous additional cutting-edge features.
In keeping with our dedication to bringing our patients the latest prosthetic technology as soon as it is available, A Step Ahead’s prosthetists have already been certified to fit the GENIUM. We will be offering the opportunity to test drive the GENIUM knee in the very near future. If you would like to be notified when it is available and receive more information, please click the link below and fill out the form completely.
A Step Ahead is finalizing plans for an ACA Peer Support Training class to be held at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, New York.
A Step Ahead Prosthetics will be sponsoring this one-day class in the spring (date and exact location to be announced), which will be taught by an ACA-certified peer support trainer.
To become an ACA-certified peer visitor, a person with limb loss or difference or one of their family members must pass a Peer Visitor Training Seminar. It must have been at least 2 years since their amputation and they must have adjusted well to their loss and be celebrating a full life in the way they choose to live it.
The ACA’s Peer Visitor program was established on this important premise. An experienced, well-trained peer can offer encouragement and information from a place, and at a pace, that an overwhelmed individual can better absorb. Based on principles of adult learning, the full-day course incorporates a variety of highly interactive elements, including role-play, games, brainstorming and case studies.
The course focuses on rehearsing peer visitation skills in a number of situations and giving and receiving feedback.
From the Prosthetist: Spring & Summer
Spring is here and summer is approaching. This is the time to get out enjoy the weather and be more active. A Step Ahead’s staff can work with you to adapt your prosthesis or design a prosthesis for any outdoor activity. If you want to ride a bike, run, swim, paddle a kayak, climb a mountain, or try any other outdoor recreational activity and need advice on how to do it, call our office at 516-681-3484 to set up an appointment.
As summer approaches and the temperature increases, several issues may develop with the fit of your prosthesis. Sweating may be a concern. If you wear a below knee prosthesis, sweating can contribute to a loose fit with poor suspension. Throughout the course of the day, you may have to take your prosthesis and silicone liner off and dry both the liner and your skin. If you don’t, you will be subjecting your limb to a wet and loose fit that may lead to skin breakdown and bone bruising.
If drying off your limb does not help, there are antiperspirants that can be applied to your limb. If over-the counter antiperspirants don’t work, you should seek advice from a dermatologist regarding stronger prescription antiperspirants. If you wear an above knee prosthesis, we advise the same care if you use a silicone liner with a seal or lanyard. If your prosthesis is suspended by total suction, taking off your prosthesis, drying your limb, and applying a light coating of medicated powder would be a good first option. Another option would be to apply an antiperspirant.
Another concern in the warm summer weather is volume fluctuation. Your residual limb may increase in size due to the heat. If you wear a below the knee prosthesis, this issue can be resolved easily by reducing sock ply. For above the knee amputees, an adjustment to your socket may be necessary. The heat may create difficulty in donning an above knee prosthesis. Staying in a well air-conditioned room for about fifteen to twenty minutes and then donning the prosthesis may make it easier. If you have more questions about how to manage the changes in temperature and how they affect your residual limb, call our office and speak to your prosthetist.
A Step Ahead Launches New Video Website
A Step Ahead is now sharing the stories of our patients and how they live life without limitations on our new video website. To watch videos of the success stories of A Step Ahead patients and the latest A Step Ahead events go to: livelifewithoutlimitations.net.
Daneroy Lawrence to Race in his First Triathlon
On August 7th, Junior Team A Step Ahead member Daneroy Lawrence (Bilateral Above Knee) will be taking part in the New York City Triathlon, one of the largest triathlons and best-known in the United States. Daneroy's participation will be unique because he will complete the Olympic-distance swim, bike, and run jointly with world-class amputee athlete Amy Palmiero-Winters (Below Knee).
Together, they will jump in the Hudson river for a one mile swim, saddle up on their custom tandem bike for the twenty-five mile ride out and back on the Henry Hudson Parkway, and tie on their running shoes and hop in their custom race chair for a 6.2-mile run through the streets of Manhattan, finishing in New York's famous Central Park.
Supporting Daneroy and Amy will be A Step Ahead's prosthetists and technicians, who are designing and fabricating a custom swimming apparatus, a racing wheelchair, and a tandem bicycle which will allow Daneroy to swim, pedal and push his way through one of the most famous and well-attended triathlons in the world.
Despite its grueling reputation, Daneroy elected to take on the challenge of the NYC triathlon and also agreed to be one of the race's featured stories. The story will highlight his most recent surgeries as well as his training and determination to show others that despite obstacles, anyone can live life without limitations.
Team A Step Ahead 2011 Schedule
Adults:
* Hershey Park weekend - June
* Gran Fondo 107-mile bike race - May 8
* Hope & Possibility 5 mile race Central Park - June 26
* NYC Triathlon - August 7
* Westchester Triathlon - September 24-25
* NYC Marathon - November 6
* Silverman Triathlon - Nevada November 5-6
Juniors:
* Hershey Park weekend - June
* Hope & Possibility 5 mile race Central Park - June 26
* NYC Triathlon - August 7
* Camping Shawangunk Mountains - August
* Westchester Triathlon - September 24-25
* NYC Marathon - November 6
* Silverman Triathlon - November 5-6
The ASPIRE Support Group meetings are on the last Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm at the Hospital for Special Surgery located at 535 East 70th Street, NY. For more information about the ASPIRE support group meetings, contact Charlie Steele at charlieatl@aol.com or (212) 877-7050.
New York-Presbyterian Hospital Amputee Education and Support Group every first Friday of the month 10:00-12:00 PM. Milstein Hospital 8 Garden North Dayroom (8th floor rehab unit) Milstein Hospital Building 177 Fort Washington Ave. For more information contact Jackee Callender at 212-305-8483.
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.
Rusk Rehab Amputee Support Group (34th Street/1st avenue) meets the last Thursday of each month 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.
| 
