September NEWSLETTER Vol. 4 Issue 9 Patients in the News The Fairfield County Sports Commission announced that its annual Chelsea Cohen Courage Award will be presented to Fairfield University student John Tartaglio (Bilateral Hip Disarticulation). The award is named after the late Chelsea Cohen, a former Norwalk High soccer star who was the award's first recipient and passed away in 2006 after a courageous bout with a rare form of cancer of the nervous system.
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John Tartaglio, runner, marathoner, student |
The award recognizes the person in the sports community who has shown inspirational strength in overcoming life-altering obstacles. John is entering his third year of pre-medical studies at Fairfield University and currently training for the 1.2 mile open swim portion of the Challenged Athletes Foundation ½ Ironman on October 28. To read the complete story about John, click HERE.
The Chicago Marathon will be featuring 30 Runners in 30 Days as part of its celebration of its 30th anniversary marathon on October 7. Along with 29 other world class runners, Amy Palmiero-Winters will be featured as part of the history of the Chicago Marathon. In 2006 at the Chicago Marathon Amy shattered the world record for female amputees in the marathon with a time of 3:04:16. This year Amy is hoping to break the 3 hour mark in the marathon with her ultimate goal of qualifying for the able bodied US Olympic Trials in April 2008. The Chicago marathon is one the worlds largest marathons with 45,000 runners. It is one of the world marathon majors which includes Berlin, London, New York and the Boston Marathons.
Amy was also recently nominated for the prestigious Runners World Magazine “Peoples Choice Heroes of Running Award” Runners World, the leading magazine in the running community, holds an annual awards dinner in New York City to honor the Heroes of Running for the year. Previous winners of the People’s Choice Heroes of Running Award include Sarah Reinersten (above knee amputee). Other award winners in the past include many world class runners and coaches and influential people in the running community.
Paddy Rossbach recently announced her retirement as the president of the Amputee Coalition of America. Her retirement will take place early in 2008. Paddy has been a tireless leader of the A.C.A. “I have enjoyed more than ten wonderful years working in various capacities with members of the Amputee Coalition, supporters of our mission and the ACA’s staff and board, during which time we have achieved significant progress in educating, supporting and advocating on behalf of individuals with limb differences.” Paddy’s leadership and enthusiasm with the A.C.A. will be missed.
Sarah Reinersten was featured in a new advertising campaign by Nike focusing on the theme “I am an athlete”. This ad campaign is starting at the beginning of the WNBA playoffs and the US Open Tennis Championships. World class athletes including Serena Williams and Gabrielle Reece are included in this campaign dedicated to female athletes. Click HERE for the story and the video.
Technology The technology advances in prosthetics has reached new heights for upper extremity amputees. The I-Limb by Touch Bionics incorporates a motor in each finger which allows the patient to use grip patterns that have previously not been available to upper extremity amputees. The I-Limb is controlled by traditional myo-electrics, which use electrodes within the prosthesis that are activated by the muscles in the residual limb. For more information about the I-Limb go to a recent article in Newsday: http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ny-hshand245304945jul24,0,2905350.story?coll=ny-health-print
A Step Ahead will be testing a new microprocessor knee. Freedom Innovations is releasing on a limited basis the Agility MPC Knee. This fall, A Step Ahead will be testing this knee on current users of microprocessor knees to evaluate its effectiveness. The knee uses Accel Control Technology, incorporating advanced hydraulic engineering and an optimized microprocessor program which measures inputs from the pylon 1,000 times per second and reacts within 10 milliseconds to changing gait and environmental conditions. We will provide an update on this testing in future newsletters.  The New C-leg: Otto Bock has launched its newest update to the C-leg. It has been redesigned and now includes a wireless remote which allows the patient to switch between modes, an electronic lock for standing, and a third mode that allows the user to slightly adjust the knee’s function for a variety of activities. For more information about the C-leg, call and speak to one of our prosthetists or click HERE to visit Ottobock's web site for more information.
Power Knee A Step Ahead continues to be one of the few prostethic facilities in the world that is authorized by Ossur to fit patients with the power knee. The Power Knee is the world's first powered prosthesis for above-knee amputees. The Power Knee replaces true muscle activity to bend and straighten the knee as required. Through the use of blue tooth wireless technology, the Power Knee synchronizes motion with that of the sound leg. When walking on level ground, the user is gently propelled forward, allowing greater distances to be covered without becoming as tired as before. On stairs and inclines the knee actively lifts the user up the next step, producing a secure and natural ascent, foot over foot.
College Scholarship Opportunities for Students with Limb Loss Missing Limbs Entrepreneur's Scholarship program is designed to support higher education for students with limb loss. They have a vision of strengthening the country by advancing college education. Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors with plans to attend a two-year or four-year institution the following academic year. Funds will be provided at the end of each school year. First year students must have graduated from high school after Jan. 1, 2007. Second year students must have graduated from high school after Jan. 1, 2006, and have had at least a cumulative 3.0 grade-point average (GPA) during their first year of college. The M.L.E. Scholarship program will be offered through public schools. Applications will be available through their website. They support both U.S. and international students living and attending schools in the U.S. Paying for college can be one of the largest expenses a family can incur, so they are here to help. To apply for this scholarship program go to: http://missinglimbsentrepreneur.org/scholarships.html
A Step Ahead is a Provider of Prosthetic Care for Federal Employees A Step Ahead has been asked to become a provider in a federal program that will give employees in over 40 federal agencies the opportunity to receive the complete services of our facility. Based on A Step Ahead’s many years of experience in providing prostethic care to disabled veterans, we will now be a provider for prosthetic & orthotic services in the New York metropolitan region. Incorporating a 100 mile radius from our facility, employees of agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, Coast Guard, the Army, Navy & Air Force Department of Transportation, the FBI, the Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security, Health & Human Services, Department of Transportation, will now be able to benefit from all of the expertise and experience of A Step Ahead. We are very proud to be selected by the federal government to provide the highest quality prostethic and orthotic care for its employees.
Amputee Support Groups The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 26 at 6:15 pm at the Hospital for Special Surgery located at 535 East 70th Street, NY, For more information about this informative monthly meeting contact Charlie Steele at charlieatl@aol.com or (212) 877-7050.
A Step Ahead is fully equipped to treat patients from across the United States and around the world. 65% of our patients are from outside of the New York tri-state region, 30% are local (within 5 hours) and 5% are from outside the United States. A Step Ahead is located close to New York City and is conveniently located near major airports and transportation. This link will give you details on our location and directions: http://www.astepaheadonline.com/aboutus_location.html
A Step Ahead in the Merck Manual The latest edition of the Merck Manual Home edition is now available online featuring a full section on prosthetics authored by Erik Schaffer, C.P. The Merck Manual is the most widely used medical manual used by physicians and other health professionals. The comprehensive online home edition written in everyday language is available free of charge. To read the section on prosthetics go to the Merck Manual Home edition website: http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec25/ch307888/ch307888a.html
Tilite Wheelchairs  A Step Ahead has become a dealer for one of the leading manufactures of custom lightweight wheelchairs. Tilite wheelchairs are exclusively made of titanium, one of the lightest and strongest materials available. The Tilite philosophy is based on the idea of developing manual wheelchairs that would combine orthosis-like customization with the most advanced materials. These attributes in a wheelchair help users remain independent longer, reduce body stress and incur fewer posture related problems.
With the assistance of William Lehr, long time wheelchair athlete in many sports and the regional representative and manager for the New York metro region, A Step Ahead can now provide the highest quality wheelchairs for it patients. For more information about TiLite wheelchairs contact our office or go to their website: http://www.tilite.com/
Team A Step Ahead Paul Martin (2:31:44) and Sarah Reinersten (3:48:13) took first place in their divisions at the World Olympic Distance Triathlon Championships in Hamburg, Germany on September 2. Major team events taking palce in the fall include the Ocean to Sound 50 mile relay race on September 9 and the Challenged Athletes Foundation San Diego ½ Ironman on October 28. The ½ Ironman consists of a ½ mile open water swim, 56 mile hilly bike ride and 13.1 mile challenging run. Four relay teams will represent Team A Step Ahead at this annual fundraising race. The teams will include Marcos Corti-Maderna, Ray Viscome, Amy Palmiero-Winters, Kelly Bruno, Michael Foresto, Tommy Koehler, Sandy Dukat, Shlomo Nimrodi, Brian O’Sullivan, John Tartaglio, Michael Laforgia and John Ahrens. Team A Step Ahead is looking forward to an exciting fall season of competition. Paul Martin (Below the knee) a long time triathelte, runner and Paralympic cyclist, became the newest member of Team A Step Ahead. Paul’s resume is extensive including 10 Ironman triathlon finishes with a personal best of 10:09:57 (world record for 2 weeks).  In addition Paul represented the US in 2000 and 2004 at the Paralympic games taking a silver medal in the team pursuit in Athens and a bronze medal in Sydney. Paul was the United States Olympic Committee’s disabled athlete of the year in 1997 and was nominated for an ESPY award in 2005. To find out more about Paul Martin visit our Team A Step Ahead Profiles page by clicking HERE.
Sandy Dukat, (AK) Paralympic skier, rock climber, distance swimmer, runner, triathelte, and Kati Rooney, (BK) runner., long distance swimmer, cyclist, hiker, along with three other female athletes with disabilities from the United States, Norway and Great Britain will be climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro on September 11 They expect that the climb will take 5 days. Mt Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa at 19,340 feet above sea level. Sandy along with the other athletes formed, “Disabilities Without Borders” an organization that is deigned to raise money for scholarships for female athletes for training at the National Sport Center for the Disabled in Winter Park, CO They hope to raise a dollar for every foot they ascend and descend the mountain for a total of $38,680. For more information on this fundraising event and how you can help support athletes with disabilities go to: http://disabilitieswithoutborders.blogspot.com/2007/05/getting-going.html We will be waiting for their report on their trip and climb and will feature a full story in the October newsletter. Seasonal Changes Affect Prosthetic Fit The change from summer to fall may affect your prosthetic fit. Ideal prosthetic fit is dependent on stability in weight and shape of your residual limb. In the warmer summer weather your residual limb may respond to the heat and humidity with swelling which will result in possible discomfort and pain. The cooler fall weather may also bring changes to your prosthetic fit.
When your body weight changes or fluctuates, you will notice that your prosthetic socket may not feel right or fit correctly. You may notice pressure areas and discomfort in specific locations on your residual limb. With minor and gradual changes in weight and shape your prosthetist can make changes to the prosthetic socket to accommodate for these changes. If your body weight changes drastically or quickly either up or down your prosthetist may need to completely fabricate an entire new prosthetic socket.
If you notice that you are not fitting properly in your prosthesis or there is discomfort or areas of pressure that feel uncomfortable you should not hesitate to contact our office to schedule a follow up appointment. If you wait too long to address the issue of weight and shape changes with a prosthetic socket that is not fitting well, you will potentially have major changes in your prosthetic socket which could be time consuming and potentially costly.
 A Step Ahead is continuing to create new innovations in customized prostheses. Through modifications in socket design and fabrication, alignment, knee joints, custom attachments to the bicycle pedal, the cycling prosthesis allows the athlete to distribute more direct application of power and force to the pedal while using their musculature in the most effective and efficient way possible. Both of the prostheses in the photos are built with the lightest weight carbon composite materials, incorporating aerodynamic design, custom knee components and custom built pedal adapters. For more information about having a prosthesis designed and fabricated for you for any type of custom application contact our office and speak to our prosthetists.
Skin Tones Options A Step Ahead’s Skin Tones department will work with you to customize a silicone skin covering for your needs. The Skin Tones System is customized to each patient’s unique anatomy, appearance and lifestyle. Many options are available to you with the Skin Tones System. Options include split toe allowing the wearing of sandals, full or partial skin covers for above knee amputees, and custom tattoos. The Skin Tones staff works closely with you to determine your skin tones and the exact details needed to match your individual flesh tones. To view the Skin Tones photo gallery on our website, click HERE. Additions to Staff Priscilla Monroy has recently joined A Step Ahead as patient care coordinator. In the last 7 years Priscilla has worked in a variety of medical and consumer settings providing her with a variety of skills and experiences. In addition Priscilla is proficient in three languages, Spanish, Portuguese and English. Priscilla is your first contact to our office and will work with you in setting up your schedule and troubleshooting many of the questions that may arise. Priscilla’s diverse work experience and expertise in a variety of office settings makes her a welcome addition to A Step Ahead.
Mobility Clinic Join Dave Balsley, P.T. and Phil Kreuter, P.T. for their monthly mobility clinic on Saturday September 22 at 10 am at the Jericho High School track on Long Island. They will provide instruction in gait training and running techniques as well as advanced mobility skills. Dave and Phil have extensive experience working with amputees of all ages and activity levels. Come work out with world class athletes and learn from experienced coaches and physical therapists. The setting is relaxed and enjoyable. There is no pressure, come and learn and see what you can do to improve yourself or just watch. For more information and directions to the mobility clinic, please call the office at 516-681-3484.
From the Billing Department Yes, it is that time of year again, summer ends and fall begins. It is also insurance options time for many people. It is time to check your insurance coverage to make sure that you are optimizing your prosthetic coverage. So check your options and your insurance coverage. If you have any questions about your current insurance coverage or any changes in coverage call the billing department or email us at janet@astepaheadonline.com
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