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INNOVATION FOR INDEPENDENCE
ISSUE 84 APRIL/MAY 2012 £6.95
Wii technology inspires stroke rehab device By Helen Williams INSPIRED by Nintendo Wii, researchers at Brunel University in London have developed a new prototype technology to improve rehabilitation programmes for stroke survivors. ReWiiRe is a custom-made programme which can be operated on any computer and tailored to individual need. It is designed to support stroke survivors to continue their rehabilitation in their own homes. One of the biggest barriers stroke survivors face is keeping motivated to continue rehabilitation exercises outside of the clinical setting. When using ReWiiRe, patients can check to see that they are performing the exercises in the right way, can see how they are progressing, and can stay motivated by playing games.
Dr. Cherry Kilbride, lecturer in physiotherapy at Brunel University, said: “Following a stroke the brain needs to be retrained. It is therefore very important to a stroke survivor to have direct visual feedback as they start to regain mobility." When using the ReWiiRe prototype patients are able to see the activity performed on the screen by an avatar, then map their own movements on top. Patients can see exactly how they are performing against their targets, and tests of the prototype have shown that when they focus on the screen they can reach further and for longer. The software includes simple games designed to improve mobility and challenge the patients in a fun and engaging way. One of the activities developed so far is an air-hockey game.
The first stage of the research assessed the potential for Wii technology in stroke rehabilitation by trialling the standard console with NHS patients.
Ultimately the idea is that ReWiiRe will allow therapists to monitor the performance of their patients remotely, checking up on progress and updating exercises when they are ready.
These findings showed that while patients were keen to use technology like this to support their rehabilitation at home, the configuration of standard Wii games was too complex which limited the benefits.
As well as freeing up therapists’ time to allow them to work with more patients for longer, having this remote rehabilitation support will also help those who may struggle to travel to their nearest clinic.
Replica ranges of the team kit to be worn by British athletes at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games go on sale this month. Designed by British designer Stella McCartney, the Adidas kit – over two years in the making – made its debut at the Tower of London in March when it was modelled by more than 30 athletes including Jessica Ennis (pictured above), Phillips Idowu and Ellie Simmonds.
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Wireless device wins top award By Helen Williams
difficult or painful,” he said.
A WIRELESS device that measures stress on artificial limbs – invented by an Eastern Michigan University researcher and a Michigan firm – has won top honours in a NASA design competition.
Armed with this information, researchers and clinicians will be able to better prescribe and align prosthetic devices, according to Frank.
The device, called an iPecs or Intelligent Prosthetic Endo-Skeletal Component, won in a ‘Create the Future’ design competition sponsored by NASA. The iPecs was an entry in the electronics category, which drew more than 900 entries from around the world. Frank J. Fedel, an assistant professor and research director for the Prosthetics and Orthotics Programme at EMU, said that he and his colleagues saw a need to accurately measure their patients’ gait in order to determine what is happening to them and their prosthetic device while walking. “By measuring what is happening directly with a device installed as part of their prosthesis you can identify uneven forces and twisting motions that make walking
Contacts Editorial Judith Halkerston Group Editor editorial@assistivetechnologies.co.uk Dominic Musgrave Healthcare Editor Email: dm@scriptmedia.co.uk Tel: 01226 734407 Helen Williams Reporter Email: helenw@scriptmedia.co.uk Tel: 01226 734694
A typical gait or walking lab incorporates multiple high-speed video cameras, floor-mounted load transducers (platforms that measure force) and a walkway or treadmill connected to a computer.
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The iPecs, which is the size of an apple, is wireless and portable and does not require expensive laboratory equipment dedicated to one room. “It’s like a gait lab without walls,” said Frank, who co-invented the device with Richard Harrington, director of design and development at Sensor Tek in Dexter, Michigan, and a team of engineers from College Park Industries. The iPecs is now sold internationally and shipped to various research labs around the world, and plans to launch the first clinical version are underway for the middle of this year.
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Circulation circulation@scriptmedia.co.uk 24 hour hotline: 01226 734695 Design/Production Stewart Holt Studio Manager Email: sth@scriptmedia.co.uk Natalie Talbot Graphic Designer Laura Blackburn Graphic Designer
A scuplture of paralympic sprinter Richard Whitehead forms the centre piece of the ‘Anatomy of an Athlete Exhibition’ at The Royal College of Surgeons’ Hunterian Museum in London. The exhibition marks the run up to the Olympics, and runs until September 29. It explores the anatomy and physiology of elite Olympic athletes, the latest innovations in orthopaedic surgery, prosthetics and the importance of training in creating and maintaining world-class sports people.
Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of all contents, the publishers do not accept liability for any error, printed or otherwise, that may occur.
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Technician accolade for Mike THIS year saw the biggest ever entry for the Limbcare Technician of the Year Award, with 16 nominations. First place went to Mike Rohammed from Otto Bock in the West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre. The panel was impressed that although Mike is the only technician working in the department, and is very busy, he still took time to develop new orthoses for patients that make their life easier. Mike, who did not know he was being put forward for the award, was nominated by two of his orthotist colleagues Rebecca Jones and Kevin Green. His prize for winning is a £400 cheque and a glass trophy. Second place went to Peter Revill from Blatchfords at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield. He was nominated by one of his prosthetists Rosemary Morris. Third place went to David Eighteen from Blatchfords in Gillingham. He was nominated by prosthetist Jeff Crew.
Cover added BAPO has added cover for private practice to its insurance policy – at no increase in costs to members. Members who carry out private work, including work as a locum, no longer have to buy any extension to their main BAPO policy. Consequently, every member who previously bought the additional insurance now saves over £500 annually. The cover applies to all UK full, associate technician, associate assistant and retired members and, is provided as a benefit of BAPO membership.
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A physiotherapist, an amputee father-of-five, and a podiatry student are among those selected to carry the London 2012 Olympic Games torch. Helen Williams reports.
Professionals named among torch bearers AROUND 37,000 people were nominated last year for the torch bearer role through the Olympic organisers, LOCOG, and 110 people per day will carry the torch and the Olympic flame. Physiotherapist Rob Waite said: “I’m absolutely chuffed. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity, to be involved in such a historical event.” The father-of-two was nominated by colleagues at BMI The Chaucer Hospital where he works as deputy physiotherapy manager. However, his nomination wasn’t for his physiotherapy skills. Rob set out in June 2010 to raise awareness of testicular cancer, the disease he survived three years before. His campaign has raised nearly £10,000 for male cancer charity Orchid. His year-long campaign culminated in a ride across Britain in June last year, which saw him cycle 1,000 miles from John O’Groats to Lands End. During the 12 months of campaigning Rob visited schools throughout East Kent and spoke to around 1,500 sixth form students about his battle with testicular cancer and the importance of a monthly self inspection. Rob will run his stretch carrying the Olympic flame in Sholden near Deal on Thursday July 19 at 9am. Also selected is amputee Rik Bennett, chosen as Olympic torch bearer for Cornwall. Rik, from St Agnes, has raised thousands of pounds for charity through sponsored walks and hill climbs, including an ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro and an expedition to the Everest base camp.
Physiotherapist Rob Waite.
He is also the UK’s only sponsored disabled surfer. He was nominated for the Olympic honour by friends and will be among those carrying the torch when it arrives on May 19, the first day of its historic journey around the country. The father-of-five who works as a chef said: “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity – one to tell the grandchildren.” Rik completed the 2009 Four Peaks challenge – Ben Nevis in Scotland, Snowdon in Wales, Scafell Pike in the Lake District and Brown Willy on Bodmin Moor – in just 27 hours and is tackling it again in June, hoping to shave an hour off that time. Money raised will go to Shelterbox and CLIC Sargent. A transtibial amputee since the age
of eight, he uses different prosthetic feet for different activities and has used Ossur products for many years. Podiatry student Toby Harris from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, has been selected to carry the Olympic flame for 300 metres on June 14 (day 26 of the relay) through the village of Walkerburn in the Scottish Borders. A second year podiatry student, Toby, 20, was nominated for the torch bearing position by his parents, Lee and Simon Harris, of Edinburgh, and by members of Edinburgh Athletics’ Club of which he is a member. A keen athlete, he is a hurdler for the Scottish National Athletics Squad and has also been a member of the National Diving Squad, regularly representing Scotland in both senior and junior national competitions.
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Ossur recognised for its innovation OSSUR has been named among the “Most Innovative Companies in the World” in the annual ranking by USbased Fast Company magazine. The publication saluted “the businesses that matter most, the ones whose innovations are having an impact across their industries and our culture.” Ranked number seven among all healthcare companies globally, Össur’s offerings include the FlexFoot Cheetah carbon fibre running prostheses used by double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius, as well as the world’s first bionic prosthetic devices for amputees. The company has continually invested a substantial portion of its revenues into research and development. It has an estimated 100 engineers, scientists, and other R&D professionals working at four dedicated facilities around the world to refine existing technologies and develop new prosthetic and orthopaedic breakthroughs. Its portfolio currently consists of more than 750 registered patents and designs, as well as design awards and accolades, including the rare distinction of designation as a global
“Technology Pioneer” by the World Economic Forum. Company president and chief executive officer Jon Sigurdsson said: “We appreciate Fast Company’s recognition of Össur’s contributions to mobility-enabling technologies to date, and remain committed to continually innovating on behalf of people worldwide.” Meanwhile, it was decided at Össur’s general meeting to delist the company from the Icelandic stock exchange and from now on only have it registered on the Danish stock exchange. Jon added: “Össur has been listed in Iceland since 1999 and the listing has been instrumental in the company's growth. “However, the business environment and the company have changed and it is important for us to focus on a trading platform that can support our strategic plans for future growth. “We would like to emphasise that this decision only affects the listing venue of the company's shares. Operations in Iceland have been expanding and we do not foresee that changing.”
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The limb which has appeared on YouTube.
Arm and hand made from Lego LEGO has long been challenging children – and adults – to ‘make anything’ with its plastic bricks. Now, one YouTube user has taken the motto a step further to create a functioning prosthetic arm and hand made entirely from Lego. The user, known only as sumthinelse5790, created the limb to mimic the full range of motion of a real human arm and hand. The hand’s movements have been sped up in the video because it
functions very slowly. But it can still move individual fingers and rotate its wrist like a human, thanks to Lego pneumatics. It can also grip objects like a plastic bottle or roll of tape. However it can only manage things that weigh no more than a couple of pounds. The arm also features a functioning elbow joint and with help from Lego motors can bend the forearm up and down. All its functions are controlled by a rudimentary cluster of switches and joysticks.
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University seeks volunteers for activity study
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By Helen Williams THE University of Bath is looking for volunteers to help researchers understand more about the effect of physical activity on the health of manual wheelchair users. Keith Parker uses the new physiotherapy app.
Orthopaedic provider publishes first free physiotherapy app POCKET Physio, a new physiotherapy app, has been launched for patients undergoing major hip and knee surgery. The app, from NHS healthcare provider UK Specialist Hospitals, is the first physiotherapy app designed specifically to help improve patients’ recoveries. It is provided to patients on iPads at UKSH hospitals and is also free to download for anyone with an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. It features a series of pre and postsurgery ‘how to’ exercise videos and is freely available in the UK to anyone interested in finding out more. The Dr Foster Hospital Guide – which collects and publishes healthcare information – says that pre-surgery education “helps relieve anxiety and increases patient understanding,” which is an essential part of a rapid recovery. Dr Sue Frankland, a South
Gloucestershire GP who advises UKSH, said: “In the past, patients have often struggled to understand exactly how to carry out their physiotherapy exercises and sometimes have given up. “The new app helps patients understand precisely how to carry out their exercises, and also why the exercises are so important to ensure a full and rapid recovery.” Keith Parker, a retired cabin crew worker, used Pocket Physio at UKSH’s Shepton Mallet Treatment Centre. He said: “I think the app is suitable for anyone, at any age. It is easier to use than a booklet and it definitely helped me start mobilising the new joint.” UKSH says innovations like this contribute to its clinical outcomes. The service was listed as the top provider for knee replacement surgery and third for hip operations in the country by the Dr Foster 2011 Hospital Guide.
‘Next generation’ launch INTERNATIONAL stairlift manufacturer Stannah will unveil a ‘next generation’ suite of stairlifts and mobility products at this year’s annual Naidex exhibition, which takes place from May 1-3. The company will be exhibiting five new members of the Stannah family – the biggest addition to its product range in recent years – at the show at the NEC, Birmingham. Visitors will have the chance to see and experience the range of products and speak to Stannah about the strategy behind the new designs, and what role they will play 6
in enhancing peoples’ lives. Patrick Stannah, joint managing director of Stannah Lift Services, said: “Naidex 2012 is going to be the biggest show for us. “We will be unveiling a whole range of products that will continue to revolutionise users’ experiences of mobility devices and stairlifts. “The strategy behind these products is to expand our suite so that a wider range of people can benefit from the independence they give, and users are helped to stay in their homes for longer.”
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I APRIL/MAY 2012
The research is taking place in the newly-formed DisAbility Sport & Health (DASH) research laboratory. DASH has three main objectives: to assess the role of physical activity in the health and wellbeing of the physically disabled population; to assess the role of exercise in the rehabilitation and long-term health and wellbeing of military amputees; and to develop strategies to enhance sports performance and reduce injury incidence among Paralympic athletes.
Tom said: “Cardiovascular disease is now the leading cause of mortality in people with spinal cord injuries and occurs earlier in the lifespan compared to able-bodied individuals. “The role of various forms of regular physical activity in reducing the risk of chronic disease among the ablebodied population is well documented and broadly accepted. “However, the health benefits of regular exercise among manual wheelchair users is less well understood, particularly among people with spinal cord injuries.” Tom hopes the research will lead to the development of bespoke exercise programmes for manual wheelchair users.
The overarching aim of this specific project is to assess the link between physical activity levels and the risk of cardiovascular disease among manual wheelchair users.
He added: “By taking part, volunteers are making a significant contribution to research designed to improve health and wellbeing of manual wheelchair users.”
Tom Nightingale, a PhD student leading the project, is looking for male and female manual wheelchair users aged between 16 and 65 years.
There is no payment for volunteering but participants will receive detailed feedback regarding their cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition and strength measurements.
The volunteers will be asked to spend half a day at the university and take part in some basic tests to assess their level of cardiorespiratory fitness, resting metabolic rate, body composition and upper body strength.
Tom and his supervisor, Dr James Bilzon, head of the department for health, are happy to give a short presentation on the study to any groups interested in taking part.
Failed trek raises £10,000 MARC Woods – whose South Pole trek featured in the last issue of Assistive Technologies – has raised more than £10,000 for charity despite being struck down with pneumonia during the trip. Marc was part of one of six teams in the Third Centenary Race to the South Pole to raise money for the charity Mencap. The company director, a patient of Dorset Orthopaedic, attempted the 744k race 100 years on from Scott and Amundsen’s epic duel to be the first to reach the South Pole. A former swimmer for Great Britain, Paralympian, and four-time gold medallist, Marc lost his leg to bone cancer at the age of 17. But that has not held him back and he is now a director of a learning and development company in Manchester.
challenge would be related to my artificial leg and stump but as it turned out it had nothing to do with it. I was having huge difficulty breathing and would later discover that I actually had pneumonia.”
The father-of-one said: “It was clear that the level of determination and strength that was needed to finish, let alone compete, was immense. I had anticipated that the biggest
Marc was pulled out of the race and taken to the Russian medical centre in Novo but still managed to raise £10,533 for the charity along with his team mate.
Marc Woods
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Research aims to improve therapies By Helen Williams NEW research at Arizona State University could benefit people with neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and cerebral palsy – and those who need prosthetic hands. The research to better understand the intricate sensory and cognitive connections between the brain and the hands has won support from the National Science Foundation, which has awarded a $640,000 grant to the work. It will fund a collaboration between Marco Santello, an ASU professor of biomedical engineering, and Columbia University scientist Andrew Gordon. In their current project they are seeking to determine the neural mechanisms that control learning and planning of the grasping and manipulation of objects. They are examining the visual cues people use to assess object properties before they grasp or otherwise manipulate objects. “We can pick up these cues, and predict the result of our actions on an object, but we don’t know exactly how the brain does this,”
Marco said. His focus is on neural control of the hand and the workings of senses such as vision and touch. In his experiments, he imposes sensory deficits on test subjects, using goggles to block vision at selected times.
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“We want to understand what aspects of visual feedback help the brain to successfully control grasping of an object and store a memory of that action,” he added. Andrew’s work focuses on cognitive aspects of the interaction between the brain and the hands. “Understanding how we integrate ‘what we know’ from prior manipulations with an object and ‘what we see’ is crucial.” he said. “This is all the more important when our senses, and thus our ability to create sensory memories, is impaired.” Knowledge gained by such research can be applied to improving neuroprosthetics. Current technology is able to provide extremely sophisticated artificial hands, but controlling the hands remains a challenge.
Professor Marco Santello (left) and students in his lab conduct experiments in sensory and cognitive abilities.
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Minister’s disability approach rewarded YORK Minster has received an award for its welcoming approach to visitors with disabilities. ‘A Good Place to Come’ has been granted by disabled young people from the Children’s Society in York, which aims to help places become more accessible to all. The youngsters have been out on fact-finding visits to theatres, colleges, sports centres and cafes, and after each visit they provide a detailed report which includes recommendations on how to improve facilities for disabled people. Lynda Corker, of York Children’s Society, said the award is not just about ramps for wheelchairs and accessible toilets, but also recognition of the attitude of staff and their warm welcome. She added: “A great deal of thought has gone into helping visitors with a wide range of disabilities.”
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Eye-tracking device helps Mia By Helen Williams A WOMAN who suffered a devastating stroke at the age of just 21 has found a new lease of life through a range of eye-tracking technology. Mia Austin, from Heswall in Merseyside, suffered the stroke in November 2009 and was left paralysed from the neck down. She now suffers from locked in syndrome meaning that while she can still see, think, hear and breathe as normal, she can only communicate by moving her eyes. Following the accident, Mia had to learn to communicate via an alphabet board. This simple but unwieldy solution involved a board, with letters in an alphabetical order, which someone would have to hold up for Mia to spell out words with eye signals. She said: “It was incredibly frustrating and very slow. If I wanted to communicate more than a few simple words, it would take a really long time. “It meant that chatting, or having conversations with my family and friends was nearly impossible, and left me feeling incredibly isolated.” Mia had to make do with the alphabet chart for over 18 months,
Mia Austin using RSL Steeper’s Tobii CEye.
until she was introduced to innovative technology provider RSLSteeper and a range of eyetracking technology from Tobii. She had the Tobii CEye tracking device and C12 communicator installed, which work by electronically tracking her eye movements and translating these to an on-screen cursor. The Tobii equipment has made a huge difference to Mia, who is now able to have conversations, email and text, as well as access the internet and Facebook, and listen to music. Mia has also managed to get a part-
time job, working at home from her computer for Co-op Travel Care. She said: “The system is really fast and easy to use, has given me back some independence, and it is fantastic to be able to communicate properly with my family and friends again.” Mia is now so quick on the system she has even managed to write a book on it called Hot Potato. RSLSteeper can provide the Tobii CSeries range of PC-based tablet computers with control using either touch screen, or through eye movements via Tobii’s CEye eye tracker.
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The UK’s first ‘Ekso’ Centre has opened in Leeds, giving people with spinal cord injuries the opportunity to stand and walk in the bionic exoskeleton, ‘Ekso.’ Helen Williams went to the launch.
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Amanda Boxtel tests out the ‘Ekso’
Ekso Bionics Europe’s MD Andy Hayes and Technology in Motion MD Steve Mottram at the Leeds launch.
Bionics firm and specialist clinic join forces to launch first centre EKSO Bionics has teamed up with specialist clinic Technology in Motion to give people the chance to experience this technology for the first time. More clinics will follow, creating a network of UK centres. The centre in Mortec Business Park will also be used by the first UK ‘test pilots’ of the exoskeleton – David Follett, Suzanne Edwards and Andrew Glenie - who have all suffered a spinal cord injury. Ekso Bionics co-founder Russ Angold has been visiting UK universities that specialise in biomechanics and robotics. He told Assistive Technologies: “A young man came up in the demo and said ‘I thought that kind of technology was science fiction.’ We need to raise awareness in the market that this kind of technology is actually happening and products
using it are available for sale. “We are always looking five years ahead and working to make products that are safer, smaller, lighter, faster and stronger.” Speaking at the Leeds launch, Andy Hayes, managing director of Ekso Bionics in Europe, said: “We are working with some of the leading spinal cord injury centres in Europe to research the long term physiological and psychological benefits of being upright and independently mobile. “However, we appreciate that some people with paralysis simply want to be able to walk now, and here we can offer a safe controlled environment to do so.” So far, over 150 people have walked in Ekso worldwide, seven from the UK. Each Ekso can be adjusted in a few minutes to fit most people, and
Velcro straps secure Ekso to the user, over their clothing and shoes. Patients have to be screened by a physician to ensure they have a good range of motion in all leg joints and reasonable upper body strength. Test pilot verdict EKSO test pilot David Follett became an incomplete tetraplegic in April 2007 after a car accident. Since the accident he has rebuilt his life, and set up the biggest wheelchair badminton club in the UK. He is also going to be an Olympic flame carrier in May and is a qualified badminton coach. He heard about Ekso through his physiotherapy clinic and thought he would be an ideal test pilot because of his fitness. “Since my accident I have continued rehab, which has helped improve my strength and made me more
independent,” David added. “The exoskeleton is an extension of the standing I have been doing as part of my physio and I hope to continue with it for as long as I can. It is such a great feeling to walk again, virtually by myself.” The facts Around 35 million US dollars has been invested in Ekso technology. 60 engineers are employed on developing the device. The Ekso has four electric motors and 15 electronic sensors and is powered by two Lithium Ion batteries, giving four to six hours of power. The Ekso costs £100,000 plus an annual service contract of £6,000. It comes with a three-year warranty. Fees to use Ekso are initially £350 for a pre screen and a one-hour walk, then £200 per session.
Device aims to reduce hearing aids stigma A DOCTOR at the University of Southampton aims to build a ‘braininspired speech enhancer’ in the next five years, which would be able to identify sound sources and enhance speech intelligibility.
stigma that hearing aids have today.
The device would be useful in everyday situations, for hearing impaired as well as hearing people, so that it ultimately reduces the
Led by the Universities of Southampton and Cambridge, the research aims to develop algorithms which mimic how the brain hears
Dr Stefan Bleeck, from the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research at the university, is researching insights on how sound is coded within the brain.
sound to improve on traditional signal processing. Dr Bleeck, who has received funding from a Google Research Award to undertake the study with colleagues, said: “Using the device we envisage building in the future should be as normal as wearing glasses today to see better.” Once researchers know better how
sound is coded, they will be able to select the parts that code speech and the ones that code unwanted noise. Today’s speech enhancement systems can reduce noise and increase speech quality, but they are not good at improving speech intelligibility, especially in noisy situations. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I APRIL/MAY 2012
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Occupational therapy’s importance highlighted THE growing importance of occupational therapy was highlighted at an event in Stormont’s Long Gallery at the Northern Ireland Assembly. Occupational therapy experts from the University of Ulster were among those attending the event organised by the College of Occupational Therapists with the Northern Ireland Occupational Therapy Management Forum. Issues covered included autism, reablement, postural symmetry, stroke related issues and palliative care. Dr Patricia McClure, associate head of the University of Ulster’s School of Health Sciences, said the university was the only provider of occupational therapy education in Northern Ireland. She added: “With the increasing drive to help older people live at home for as long as possible, it is ever more important that we have a proper complement of professionals.”
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Bionics feature on website By Helen Williams THE BBC has been taking a detailed look into how bionics are going to permanently alter our everyday lives in its ‘Bionic Bodies’ series on the BBC News website. An interactive feature ‘Can you build a human body?’ forms a centrepiece of the series and features drag and drop body parts including brain, heart, leg, and pancreas. Clicking on the parts reveals news stories such as the first eye transplant taking place in the UK. The site name checks the 1970s television series ‘The Six Million Dollar Man’ as it takes a look at how the show’s bionic fantasies have become reality. There is discussion of enhancing the body to superhuman levels, and also a look back at some of the earliest prosthetics from ancient Egypt. Teenager Patrick Kane – who lost his left arm and right leg after contracting meningitis and developing blood poisoning at nine months old – appears in a ‘Day in the life with my bionic body.’ Others featured include soldier Andrew Garthwaite, who lost an arm, and ‘plastic heart’ patient Matthew Green. The series also talks to Nicola Wilding who is actively considering having her
An early steel and brass prosthetic circa 1850-1910 (Science Museum, London). hand removed and replaced with a bionic prosthesis. Nicola lost the use of her right arm in a car crash 12 years ago. Although nerve transplants returned some movement to her upper arm, she was told she will never be able to use her hand again. It remains paralysed and withered. Now, having seen a Newsnight film on the work of Austrian surgeon Oskar Aszmann, she is actively
considering having it removed. She told the BBC: “It’s the everyday things. If you go to butter toast you can’t hold it. I’ve also used my teeth to open bottles and chipped some teeth.” She will now go through testing of electrical output of nerves in her lower arm, to see whether they will provide sufficient signals to steer a bionic hand.
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Device hailed as ‘breakthrough’ A ROBOTIC device that allows paraplegics to stand up is being hailed as a potential breakthrough, allowing them to perform everyday tasks from shopping to ironing far more easily. The Tek Robotic Mobilisation Device was developed by a team in Turkey and has already transformed the life of Yusuf Akturkoglu who was selected to test it. The 27-year-old lost the use of his legs after falling from a horse five years ago. He said: “It's wonderful to stand up because we spend our lives sitting. We can stand up if somebody helps and that happens once a day or maybe twice, if somebody is around. “If not, we don't get up. But by using this device, I can get up whenever I want. This device helps me to get mobilised. I can go to the kitchen and do whatever I want. I feel free.” Regular wheelchairs can only be front-mounted. Whenever a user has to get off a toilet or bed they must lift their body with their arms and ‘throw’ themselves on to their wheelchairs. It is a difficult manoeuvre to
complete without assistance and is sometimes dangerous. Devised by Istanbul-based research and development company AMS Mekatronic, The Tek can be summoned by remote control and users strap themselves in before hoisting themselves into a standing position with relative ease.
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They then navigate using the remote control. At just over 1ft wide and 2ft long the device is very compact. It is rechargeable and must be charged every three days. The inventor, Necati Hacikadiroglu, told Reuters: “We've developed a device that enables paralysed people to move through narrow passages, sit on a chair with ease, use the washrooms that we use, and do their own shopping. “It provides them with the opportunity to live in places not designed for paralysed people.” The product has undergone clinical trials and is being praised by doctors. They say it can help prevent health problems faced by many paralysed people, such as pressure sores, diabetes, and heart disease through poor circulation.
Yusuf Akturkoglu using the Tek device.
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A campaign calling for cash machines to be upgraded with technology to help blind and partially sighted customers is winning over major banks. Helen Williams reports.
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Cash machine campaign joy SUZIE Simons is a 33-year-old mother-of-two and currently has to ask her seven-year-old son for help with using cash machines. She joined the Royal National Institute of Blind People’s (RNIB) ‘Make Money Talk’ campaign after being shocked to find that in America one in four cash machines ‘talk’ – compared with about one in a thousand in the UK. Less than one per cent of machines in the UK have headphone ports and software enabling blind people to hear what’s happening on screen. Suzie, who has promoted the campaign on programmes including BBC Breakfast, said: “When I lost my sight over six years ago, I thought taking money out from a cash
An ATM with a headphone portal.
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machine was just another everyday task that I could no longer carry out on my own. “I was shocked and angry when I discovered that the technology had already existed for more than a decade to enable me, and thousands like me, to use cash machines independently.” The RNIB reported one instance where a blind person trusted a friend to help him use an ATM, but found the ‘friend’ was actually withdrawing more than asked for and pocketing the difference. Many others said they had no choice but to ask strangers for help, even in some cases revealing their PIN. There are now 85 ‘talking ATMs’ in the UK (Northern Bank), although there are almost two million people living with sight loss of which nearly 400,000 are registered blind or partially sighted. To use the machines, customers plug in their own ear phones and listen to the options being read out and then press the appropriate selection on the keypad.
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I APRIL/MAY 2012
Suzie Simons with her son. They can tell where each number is because keypads have a consistent layout like a phone and there should be a tactile dot on the number five to make it easier. RNIB started asking banks to use accessibility technology in 2010, and some such as Northern Bank, Barclays and Lloyds have committed to it. Lloyds is renewing around 1,500 of its oldest cash machines and Barclays
has committed to rolling out ‘talking ATMs’ towards the end of this year. Hugh Huddy, RNIB campaigns officer for inclusive society, said: “Sighted people can enjoy the convenience of taking cash out of Britain’s 64,000 ATMs anytime of day or night, but most blind and partially sighted people have to make special trips to the bank, or get cash back in large amounts to make sure they have enough money.”
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American model and double amputee Aimee Mullins has been touring London’s Olympic and Paralympic venues in her capacity as US Paralympic Ambassador. However, she did find time to make a visit to Dorset Orthopaedic.
The TGA HD Breeze 4S GT tackles the Welsh hillside.
Scooters put to the test MOBILITY scooters are not usually associated with extreme sport but that changed when the television show Top Gear decided to put them to the test on a rugged Welsh mountain. The BBC asked Suffolk-based mobility specialist TGA if it could loan a scooter so it could be tested in an extreme challenge involving the Help for Heroes charity. The idea was a race between two teams up the mountain in the Brecon Beacons. Three Help for Heroes disabled war veterans were competing against the Top Gear presenters who would ride radically customised second hand scooters.
Around eight million viewers tuned in to watch the episode which involved six scooters including TGA’s Breeze 4S. The machines had to tackle one in three inclines, tracks covered in boulders, soggy thick mud and an overall distance far beyond the norm of battery capabilities. James May and Jeremy Clarkson became immobile as the terrain proved too tough for their chosen machines, and even one of the BBC crew’s 4x4 vehicles became stuck several times. Richard Hammond continued on his Supersport which was modified with caterpillar tracks and a petrol engine but the eventual winners were the disabled veterans.
Aimee Mullins with prosthetist Bob Watts.
Model Aimee finds time to call in on Bob AIMEE Mullins – Paralympic gold medallist, international spokesperson for L'Oreal, motivational speaker and actress – is a remarkable woman with incredible achievements. Born without fibulae in both legs, she was told she would be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. Her only hope, they said, was amputating her legs below the knees so she might learn to use prosthetics. The gamble paid off and by the age of two, Aimee -– who grew up between Pennsylvania and County Clare, Ireland – was independently mobile, although bone-growth complications meant she spent the next six years undergoing operations. She was a gung-ho girl who swam, rode a bike, climbed trees and skied. By 17, she became one of three students out of 39,000 applicants across the US to win an academic scholarship to Georgetown University and she entered the School of Foreign Service, where former students include Bill Clinton. Working as an intern at The Pentagon, Aimee found she was not suited to the constraints of a government job and switched her focus to sport. She went on to become a world class athlete and in 1996 in Atlanta, wearing carbonfibre prosthetics, she set world records for the 100m and 200m sprints. Fashion designer Alexander McQueen spotted her in her early 20s and had an idea to replace her prosthetics with a pair of intricately carved
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ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I APRIL/MAY 2012
wooden boots, to be modelled as part of London Fashion Week. It was prosthetist Bob Watts, now managing director of Dorset Orthopaedic, who seamlessly fitted these prosthetic limbs ensuring Aimee’s comfort was not compromised. Aimee said Naomi Campbell approached her backstage at the time and wanted to try on her wooden legs, thinking they were boots. Aimee said: “I told her ‘they’re not boots, they’re legs, and I showed her. I think one reason I did so well on the catwalk was because my prosthetic legs let me adjust my height at will.” Bob, who has also been prosthetist to the British Paralympic team, was able to provide Aimee with the silicone limbs that come complete with hair follicles and freckles. Aimee said: “He’s the best in the world. My prosthetics are so lifelike no-one can believe they’re not real.” Aimee does not shy away from controversy. During an interview on BBC HardTalk, she discussed her views about the debate surrounding Paralympian Oscar Pistorius competing against able-bodied athletes. Does technology give the Paralympian an unfair advantage? “Absolutely not,” said Aimee. “There's no level playing field in sport. Name me one Olympian with legs who has voluntarily amputated their legs for this so-called advantage.”
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SPORTS REHABILITATION
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Two specialist clinics to treat sports injuries LINCOLNSHIRE patients who have sports injuries are benefitting from two new clinics that have been set up in their area. United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust has developed new sports and soft tissue knee clinics at Pilgrim Hospital in Boston and Louth County Hospital. The new clinics will focus on a number of specific areas including anterior cruciate ligament injury, knee pain and instability of the knee cap. Mr Dipak Raj, consultant lower limb orthopaedic surgeon with special interests in sports injury surgery, decided to open the new clinics to provide a service to local sports people as he has a special interest in sports and soft tissue knee problems. He said: “We are really pleased to have set up the new clinics. Patients will now be able to be treated locally rather than having to travel further afield to receive treatment. I believe this will be well received by local people.”
PARA-CYCLISTS Jon-Allan Butterworth (Team GB) and Colin Lynch (Ireland) have been crowned world champions at the 2012 UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships in Los Angeles.
Dipak Raj
Dareen Tyrie was one of the first patients to be treated at Boston. He said he felt that the service had really helped to aid his recovery. “I had an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery done by Mr Raj,” added Dareen. “I am very happy with the treatment and recommend this treatment to others who have ruptured their anterior cruciate ligament of the knee.”
Paralympian presents Wii A PARALYMPIC table tennis player presented a Wii Fit to a Nottingham sheltered housing scheme to encourage older residents to stay fit and active. Sue Gilroy MBE, a teacher and champion of disabled sport, presented the games console to residents at Lathkill Court, Bulwell, on behalf of the company Frank Haslam Milan. The regeneration specialist has been upgrading kitchens and a bathroom
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Gold success for para-cyclists at championships
as part of Nottingham City Homes’ Secure Warm Modern improvement programme at Lathkill Close. Despite having Ehlers-Danlos syndrome – a rare and painful degenerative disability – Sue has won two Commonwealth Games gold medals, a World Championships bronze medal, and four European Championships medals (a gold, two silvers and a bronze). She has also won hundreds of international medals competing for the Great Britain Paralympic table tennis team.
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I APRIL/MAY 2012
Both riders were using new prosthetic devices developed and manufactured at PACE Rehabilitation in Cheadle, Cheshire, just before they headed off to compete in America. Clinicians and technicians worked closely with the riders to develop JonAllan’s above-the-elbow and Colin’s below-the-knee bespoke devices. Prosthetist Howard Woolley said: “The devices have evolved from considerable research and development. For example, we have used shapes created in wind tunnels to model Colin’s device. “It offers the optimum aerodynamics whilst remaining within the strict UCI Union and Olympic rules.” Upon his arrival in America, Colin reported that the new wing-shaped device generated considerable interest. The event was the first competitive test of the riders and their devices in 2012 and a good indicator for the forthcoming Paralympics in London – so both riders were understandably delighted with their gold medals. However, Colin’s preparation for his final was far from ideal. He said: “After the heats, both of us fastest qualifiers had to have a classification review. All of this on the eve of the race.” Colin’s classification fortunately
Jon-Allan Butterworth in action. Credit: Eamonne Deane. remained unchanged. After powering to gold in the Men’s C2 3km Pursuit final, Colin said: “I didn't expect to win, but had faith in my coach and training and dug deep. “The guys at PACE went the extra mile to get everything done in time.” He backed up his win with a fourth place in the 1km time trial the following day. A few minutes before Jon-Allan took to the track in the Men's C5 1km time trial, China’s Xingyang Liu smashed the world record, and JonAllan had to put in the performance of his life to claim the world record and retain his World Champion status. Afterwards he said: “That was probably the hardest kilometre I have ever done.”
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KIDS
sponsors kids
Diabetes campaign launched in US city NEW York City Health Department has been running a diabetes and obesity campaign warning people not to consume too many fizzy drinks – as they could risk losing a limb. Each year, around 65,000 people with diabetes in the US have to lose a limb due to the illness. Around one third of US adults are obese as are 17 per cent of children and adolescents aged between two and 19. The campaign posters warn that large portions of fizzy drinks and fast food are an unhealthy habit and may cause diabetes which can lead to amputations. City officials put up 1,000 posters on the subway which show a man with Type 2 diabetes who has lost his right leg sitting behind a chart showing how fizzy drink portions have gradually got bigger. The caption reads: “Portions have grown. So has Type 2 diabetes, which can lead to amputations.” The shocking adverts have been criticised by drink producers for painting an ‘inaccurate picture’ of what the drinks do to the body. But in response, the city’s Mayor Bloomberg said: “Do you want to have people lose their legs? Or do you want to show them what happens so that they won’t lose their legs? Take your poison. Which do you want.”
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Mix-up means Nicky has to fund son’s limbs By Helen Williams THE mother of a six-year-old boy with meningitis has been left to fund a £20,000 pair of artificial legs for her son following an administration mixup. Archie Barton was due to pick up his latest set of high-tech limbs from a clinic in Dorset after growing out of his old ones. But his family were shocked to discover the NHS will no longer pay for the private clinic because the same prosthetics are available closer to their home in Plymouth, Devon. Archie’s mother Nicky Barton said her son could not afford to wait two weeks for alternative NHS limbs as his legs and pelvis will tighten. The NHS funded his first pair of legs from a private centre in 2009. Nicky said they have no choice but to pay the £20,000 bill themselves because any delay could harm his progress. She said: “It’s just a mess. There’s been a lack of communication and I can’t cancel this now. Archie is desperate for new limbs as he has grown so much. The old ones hurt him. The new legs have been made and he’s expecting them. He’s been
doing so wonderfully. Even waiting two weeks and his legs and pelvis will tighten. It’s a lot of money but we will have to find it.” Archie lost his legs due to severe septicaemia after contracting meningitis B at 18 months old, and now needs new artificial limbs each year. He also has a severe visual impairment. NHS Plymouth has funded Archie’s care at the private specialist centre in Dorset since 2009, after his parents mounted a campaign. They apologised that a letter informing the Bartons of the changes had not reached them before the private clinic told them. NHS Plymouth says Archie can receive an alternative set of limbs from the city’s Disablement Services Centre within two weeks of assessment but Nicky Barton said that was 'too long' to wait for her son. Fiona Phelps, NHS Plymouth assistant director of commissioning, said: “I’m sorry that Mr and Mrs Barton didn’t receive our letter before they had the phone call from the private provider in Dorset.” She said a letter explaining the decision and inviting the family to discuss Archie’s needs has been sent.
Archie Barton Fiona added: “Our funding comes from the public purse and so it is good practice to review and check how we make best use of NHS money while continuing to provide a quality service for local people.” Nicky said she intends to appeal the decision to move her son’s care, adding that the family would have paid for the limbs by the time a letter arrived.
DeNovo agrees five-year deal with Nimco SOMERSET-BASED DeNovo Healthcare has sealed a five-year agreement with Nimco which makes paediatric footwear. The firm has also launched Made4You, a range of diabetic shoes
for men and women. DeNovo managing director Nick Talbot said his company had acted as UK and Eire distributors for Nimco Footwear over the past four years. He added: “This new arrangement
gives us much more scope to develop new products jointly with Nimco and broaden our offering into adult stock and semi-bespoke footwear to complement our current children’s range.”
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Programme encourages kids to look after their feet
CAMILLA Parker Bowles joined celebrations in honour of the centenary of Britain's first podiatry organisation.
By Helen Williams A SENIOR academic at the University of Southampton is leading a pioneering new classroom programme for 7-11 year olds to encourage school pupils to look after their feet.
The Duchess of Cornwall was presented with a sculpture of Her Royal Highness by The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists to mark 100 years of the group's existence.
Exclusively piloted at Bitterne Park Junior School in Southampton, the Podiatry and School Science (PASS) project is now being developed across the UK.
The society, formed initially in 1912, came into being in 1945 after five English chiropody organisations joined together to create the British branch of the European body.
Dr Julia Potter, the University’s admission lead for podiatry, has developed the PASS project in collaboration with Paul Walker, curriculum manager and science lead at Bitterne Park Junior School.
Stuart Baird, chairman of the organisation, said: “We are extremely proud of the work and advancements made by the podiatry profession over the last 100 years.“
The project, commissioned by the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, aims to raise awareness of foot health and podiatry through the science curriculum.
Expert set for event
As well as inspiring children to take an interest in the science behind their feet, the project also aims to generate a better understanding of where to go about foot health issues amongst parents and in turn keep people mobile for longer. Following successful pilots with Year 4 Key Stage 2 children (8-9 year olds) at Bitterne Park, the lesson is now being delivered on a national level by the Universities of Brighton, Northampton and East London, reaching over 700 children. Year 4 lessons address the subject of whether taller people have bigger feet with children participating in activities such as ink printing and measuring their own feet. Year 5 lessons are now also being piloted at Bitterne Park Junior School,
Duchess celebrates centenary
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A BIOMECHANICS coaching expert who has trained five Olympic champions will be among speakers at a foot health event on May 29 and May 30.
getting children to look at how exercise affects our bodies, and there are plans to develop the project further for Key Stage 3 pupils.
“Delivering lessons through schools is a great way to raise awareness of such an important issue to children at a key stage of their development.”
Martin Haines, chairman of the UK Biomechanics Coaching Association, joins podiatry experts Paul Harradine, Dr Farina Hashmi, Ian Reilly and Louise Stuart for ‘Foothealth 2012’ at Kettering Conference Centre.
Dr Julia Potter said: “This project has proved to be a fun way of engaging children who have all been extremely enthusiastic.
Bitterne Park Junior School’s Paul Walker said: “The PASS project pilot scheme has been a real success and helped our children engage with science through real life experience.”
The lecture programme, organised by Professional Events, offers health professionals the opportunity to update their practice.
Dr Julia Potter with a pupil from Bitterne Park Junior School.
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I APRIL/MAY 2012
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PRODUCT NEWS
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Line-up revealed for first conference ASSISTIVE Technologies – trusted to bring the latest news, expert opinion and developments to orthotics, prosthetics and physiotherapy – is launching its first ever seminar. The one-day event ‘A Multi Disciplinary Approach to Rehabilitation’ is at The Hilton Avisford Park Hotel, Arundel, West Sussex, on Tuesday July 3 and is hosted with Script Events. The seminar is open to all clinicians working within orthotics, prosthetics and physiotherapy. It will also give an opportunity to network and update continuing professional development
portfolios. Some of the industry’s most respected professionals are in the line-up of speakers. They include prosthetist/orthotist Toby Carlsson, who is founding director of PACE Rehabilitation, orthotist Elaine Nelson from Trulife, orthotist/prosthetist Matt Hughes of Dorset Orthopaedic, sports physiotherapist Cliff Eaton, and Jim Bonney of Adventure Rehab. Speakers will give delegates an insight into their methods, and share expertise and in-depth case studies. To reserve your place call the booking hotline on 01226 734475.
PAIN RELIEF WITHOUT MEDICATION MANY people suffer unnecessarily from knee pain due to osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease characterised by the breakdown of cartilage that cushions the bones of the knee. The Unloader One from Össur is a highly effective, noninvasive solution that unloads the affected cartilage to relieve pain and improve mobility. The New Unloader One Plus is designed to optimise these features for the larger patient. The new design incorporates wider straps, thigh and calf shells to improve comfort and control of soft tissue. The adjustable hinge allows the clinician to precisely align the shells to fit the patient’s anatomy, whilst the Dual Dynamic Force straps at the core of the Unloader One design provide the offloading force. Enquiries: For further information contact Össur on 08450 065 065 or visit www.ossur.co.uk
TWO SIMPLE MEASURES ARE ALL IT TAKES BY simply providing us with TWO measurements (waist AND sternal notch to navel) Beagle Orthopaedic will provide you with an easy to fit LSO/TLSO that is guaranteed to fit first time. Giving you superior motion restriction, the Contour range offers unlimited adjustability ensuring optimal performance for virtually any body size or shape. The Contour SPK (sternal pad kit) was designed specifically for ease of application and patient use. The under arm straps are easy to use yet extremely comfortable and stop the brace migrating up the body, minimising the need for excessive complicated straps. The Contour Brace system from Aspen is the latest concept in spinal bracing. It will arrive pre-assembled allowing you to apply it straight onto the patient giving you the time to make minimal yet critical adjustments for it to become a perfect fit for each individual patient. Enquiries: For further information or a product demonstration call Beagle Orthopaedic on 01254 268788
The 2010 Orthopadie + Reha-Technik trade fair.
Trade fair attracts visitors from around the world THE Orthopadie + Reha-Technik trade fair due to take place in Leipzig, Germany, from May 16 to 18 is seeing keen interest – with exhibitors having booked out two halls three months before the show. Several exhibitors have expanded their presentations, and space rented out reached 2010 levels at an early stage. Project director Ronald Beyer said: “There are only a few areas still available and we have been reminding those still wishing to do presentations to hurry with their registration.” Young and innovative companies showed particular interest, booking out a joint stand four months before the show. In the last few months, Chas A. Blatchford & Sons, Fillauer Companies, Ofa Bamberg, Ortho Europe, Streifeneder Ortho, Thuasne
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I APRIL/MAY 2012
Also a first for the show are exhibitors from Croatia, New Zealand and Norway. The central meeting place for international contacts is the ‘Forum International,’ where around 50 associations and institutions will be mingling. Training for young professionals is among the show’s new themes, with a new ‘youth academy’ section for technical orthopaedics. A World Congress from May 15 to 18 – offering more than 200 lectures – runs alongside the fair.
A simple solution to some simple requests BEAGLE’S Newport Lite Hip Orthosis offers a solution to expensive delays in patient discharge. On occasion, a patient is ready to be discharged once a suitable orthotic device has been fitted and is waiting to see a clinician on their next available clinic day. However, this may result in a delay. The situation would be easier if a suitable product was always in stock to be fitted immediately. But until now, this has meant the expensive prospect of holding stock of every size of the chosen product in both left and right variants. The Newport Lite Hip Orthosis offers a one-size-fits-most compression belt design and universal left-or-right adjustable thigh components. It uses the Virtual Hip joint to safely
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Deutschland and Vorum Research are among those to register. Countries represented include Italy, Japan, Canada, the Netherlands, Taiwan and Turkey, while Otto Bock HealthCare is this year the largest exhibitor. UK exhibitors include Ossur Europe, Algeos, and for the first time, Promedics Orthopaedic from Scotland.
control flexion, extension, adduction, and abduction. A lateral abduction paddle completes a well tolerated, lightweight design which is both hygienic and easily understood by therapists and carers. Clinicians have favoured the Newport range of hip braces from Orthomerica for much of the last decade. The Newport 3 and later Newport 4 remain favourites for orthotists with primary concerns in control of abduction and adduction, as well as range of motion. Now, issues of patient compliance and hygiene are increasingly relevant in choice of device. This is especially true where patients are frail and elderly.
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