amp it up! magazine
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The Health & Lifestyle Magazine for Amputees Who Want to Live More FullyTRANSCRIPT
The Health & Lifestyle Magazine for Amputees Who Want to Live More Fully
MAY/JUNE/JULY 2012
this issue FACING SECONDARY CONDITIONS 13 STRENGTH TRAINING 20 NEVER GIVE UP! 28
From ordinary to extraordinary
Katy Sullivan
Issue #02
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Welcome to the second issue of Amp It Up! magazine.
One of the focuses of this issue is “The Bat-
tle Against Secondary Conditions.”By secondary conditions, we gener-
ally mean those negative health con-ditions that sometimes go along with being an amputee. Some of these con-ditions exist as a result of the disorder or disease that led to the amputation in the first place, and some of them are new conditions that amputation puts amputees at greater risk for.
Diabetes is a great example. if not well-controlled, it can lead to ampu-tation. in fact, diabetes is the leading cause of nontraumatic lower-limb am-putations among adults in the United States (national Diabetes informa-tion Clearinghouse). Diabetes can also cause eye problems, which can lead to blindness; kidney failure; nerve dam-age that can cause loss of feeling and/or pain in the feet; gum infections that can lead to tooth loss; heart and blood vessel disease, which can lead to poor circulation, strokes and heart attacks; and even death. So if you have an am-putation that was caused by diabetes, you could also be dealing with some of these other health conditions as well.
Moreover, being an amputee as a result of diabetes also puts you at risk for other consequences of diabetes.
Since being an amputee due to dia-betes might cause you to live a more sedentary lifestyle, you might be at risk for abnormal weight gain. That weight gain could then lead to a worsening of your diabetes or more strain on your heart, etc. in addition, as an amputee who has diabetes with a compromised nerve and circulatory system, you might be at greater risk for the loss of another limb as a result of diabetes and of walking with just one leg, which puts more stress on your remaining leg. if you have nerve damage, which keeps you from noticing the injury to your remaining foot, it could get dam-aged and become infected. if your cir-culation is also impeded by diabetes, the infection might be harder to heal and lead to a bone infection, which then could lead to the loss of another limb or even death.
Secondary conditions of ampu-tation might also include back pain, phantom pain, muscle atrophy, osteo-porosis, obesity, knee and shoulder pain, contractures, depression, suicidal thoughts, and various other problems.
Fortunately, many of these prob-lems can be either prevented or dealt with effectively, especially if they are recognized early.
in the case of diabetes, for exam-ple, it is believed that comprehensive foot-care programs - ones that include risk assessment, foot-care education,
From the Editor
The Health & Lifestyle Magazine for Amputees Who Want to Live More Fully
regular From the editor 03 Upcoming events 27
4 AMp it Up! MAgAzine MAY/JUNE/JULY 2012
preventive therapy, treatment of foot problems, and referral to specialists - can reduce amputation rates by 45 per-cent to 85 percent (national Diabetes information Clearinghouse).
in addition, the Diabetes Preven-tion Program (DPP), a large prevention study of people at high risk for diabe-tes, showed that lifestyle intervention to lose weight and increase physical
From the Editor
activity reduced the development of type 2 diabetes by 58 percent during a three-year period. The reduction was even greater, 71 percent, among adults ages 60 years or older (national Diabe-tes information Clearinghouse).
Clearly, amputees should have hope in the ability to prevent and/or deal with the threat of many secondary conditions. in this issue, we discuss
two major problems that amputees might need to prevent and/or deal with - the risk of losing an additional limb if you have diabetes and the dete-rioration of muscles and bones. if you can prevent and/or deal with these problems, your life as an amputee and your ability to “amp up” your life to a higher level will be improved. it’s dif-ficult to thrive when you’re dealing with the fear of losing another limb or frailty.
Dr. Mark Hinkes, a renowned po-diatrist, will tell those of you who have lost a limb to diabetes how to keep from losing a second limb to the same dreaded disease. And you’ll also learn how to prevent the deterioration of your muscles and bones through strength training.
in this issue, we’ll also tell you about Scott Odom and Katy Sullivan, two amazing amputees.
Scott is the co-founder of Amp 1 Stand Up Amputee Basketball. His story is about pursuing a dream through difficulties and succeeding and making a difference in other peo-ple’s lives.
Katy is a Paralympic athlete and a talented actress.
This young man and woman are two more excellent examples of what “amping it up” is all about. Although they are excelling in sports, their lives are much more than that. They epito-mize the fact that amputees can live an “ordinary” life or an “extraordinary” one. nothing is wrong with an “ordi-nary” life if you are happy. But, if you want an “extraordinary” life, amputa-tion should not have a major say in whether or not you get it.
Rick bowers editor-in-Chief
Learn how you can help stop diabetes by losing weight, eating healthy and staying active.
Visit checkupamerica.org or call 1-800-DIABETES.
You have to work at losing weight. Every day. But with every step, you
lower your risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Because many
of the nearly one million deaths each year from type 2 diabetes, heart
disease and stroke could be prevented with a few lifestyle changes,
including weight loss, regular physical activity and healthier food choices.
It’s not easy. But it is worth it.
Gaining weight was easy. Losing it's a lot harder...
but very much worth the effort.
One Step at a Time 7x10 V5a.indd1 1 7/13/10 8:46:09 PM
features06 Spotlight on nonprofits: Amputee Blade Runners08 Cover Story: From ordinary to extraordinary13 Battle against secondary conditions14 Save your remaining leg19 Foot care for people with diabetes20 The role of strength training in “amping up” your life23 Physical training pays off big for new amputee26 Mental performance - its effect on fitness & training28 never give up!
regular From the editor 03 Upcoming events 27
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Contents
Cover Photo: Katy Sullivan
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An interview With Founders Aaron Fitzsimmons, CP, OT , and Ryan Fann, CP
Amp It Up! (AIU): How and why was the Amputee Blade Runners organization founded?
Ryan: i am a below-knee amputee and have been since age 3. i was provided a free running leg by a prosthetics company as i finished high school, and that leg made a huge difference in my athletic ability. As a result of that specially designed running leg, i was able to make the U.S. Paralympic track team, to re-main a member of the team for five years, and to make the track team for Ten-nessee State University.
getting a running prosthesis didn’t just make me faster, however. it also created numerous opportunities in life that i might not have come across. For me, it was life-changing.
Once Aaron and i connected, it didn’t take long for him to understand what a difference getting a free running prosthesis made for me. The question we both continued to think about was why it took so long for it to happen.
Although i lost my leg when i was 3 years old, i did not receive a running blade until my last year of high school. All of my prosthetic providers knew how active i was growing up, but not once did any of them educate me about a running prosthesis or even the Paralympics. So Aaron and i decided to create an organization that would do both so that other amputees would not have to wait so many years to get the opportunity to run and participate in athletic activities.
Spotlight on Nonprofits
Amputee Blade Runners organization strives to help amputees get the proper prosthetic devices for running
The Amputee Blade Runners provide run-ning prostheses at nO COST to qualifying individuals. Unfortunately, Medical insur-ance deems a running leg as “not Medically necessary,“ although amputees cannot run on a standard “walking prosthesis” without significant pain. We also provide specialized training and sponsorship opportunities for our runners to participate in national events.
AIU: What is the goal of the organization?
Ryan: We want to reach as many young amputees as possible so they do not be-gin to set limits on what they can achieve due to missing a limb. Once we begin set-ting limits, it begins to become a lifestyle. Humans are very adaptable so amputees adapt and adopt a less-active lifestyle. We want to stop that.
AIU: How can amputees request assis-tance from the organization, and what are the criteria for approval?
Aaron: There is a brief online application at http://amputeebladerunners.com/wp-content/ uploads/2012/04/Copy-of-2012_gAPP.pdf. it involves answering basic health questions, providing a letter from a medical professional, and writing a personal essay about why a running leg is important to you personally.
AIU: How many amputees have the Amputee Blade Runners been able to help so far?
Aaron: 12AIU: What is the best thing that anyone has told
you after the organization has helped him or her? Ryan: “i can run like the other kids now, and it does
not hurt!” And then one month later: “i run faster than most of the other kids now!” This was from a 12-year-old named Andrew - a future Paralympian!
AIU: How does it feel to make such a great differ-ence in someone’s life?
Ryan: it is an honor very dear to my heart. That is why we are so passionate about providing this life-changing opportunity to as many people as we can.
AIU: What can people do to help the Amputee
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Blade Runners fulfill the organization’s mission? Aaron: Reach out to others, especially children, and let them
know about us. Our major barrier is misinformation. Amputees have come to us and told us two very surprising things.
First, they did not think that our organization was real - that we would just give away running legs!
Second, many of the amputees we’ve talked to were told by their prosthetic provider that they had a walking foot they could run on! This is not true. no walking foot can compare to a run-ning blade, and this upsets us because these amputees tried to run on their walking foot, and it is very hard to do and hurts badly. However, because these amputees trusted their prosthetist and their prosthetist said that they could run on their walking foot, they began to believe that something was wrong with them, and they gave up. All because they got bad information from their prosthetist.
AIU: Does the organization have a slogan, motto or tagline? Aaron: “nO FeeT … nO eXCUSeS”AIU: What is your long-term vision for the organization? Aaron: We want to have runners and an Amputee Blade Run-
ners club in every state; we want to provide at least 20 running blades per year; and we want to partner with other running groups like Achilles international for support for our runners.
AIU: Where can people find more information about the organization?
Aaron: www.amputeebladerunners.com
The ABR made running legs for Andrew and Laura and supported them to go to
the Endeavor Games this year. (Above) Andrew winning the 100-meter race. Andrew set four world records for
his under-14 age group, and he is only 12. He set records in the 60m, 100m, 200m
and 400m races.
Andrew and Laura with all of their medals
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KAtY SULLivAN LiKES to JoKE tHAt SHE NEvER got tHE MEMo.
tHE MEMo SHE’S tALKiNg ABoUt iS tHE oNE tHAt SAYS tHAt A WoMAN BoRN WitHoUt LEgS FRoM ABovE tHE KNEES DoWN CAN’t Do CERtAiN tHiNgS - tHAt SHE iS RELEgAtED to LiviNg tHE tYpE oF LiFE tHAt “tWo-LEggERS” oFtEN ExpECt oF SoMEoNE WitH No LEgS.
“i have always believed that i could do anything that i want, and having my physical situation just makes me stand out that much more from the crowd,” she says. “Being told ‘no’ or that i ‘can’t’ do something has done nothing but inspire me to work harder in my life. The path that i have taken has been compli-cated at times, and i could have found one with less resistance,
Cover Storyby Amp It Up! Staff
From ordinary to
but that wouldn’t be me.”Katy, who is now a successful actor, athlete, motivational
speaker and spokesperson, considers “can’t” a four-letter word and says that when she hears it, she takes it as merely a sugges-tion - a suggestion that she usually rejects.
indeed, she has been achieving successes all over the place in the last 10 years.
You might, for example, have seen her playing the feisty red-head on the television comedy “My name is earl.” And if not there, you might have caught a glimpse of her on “i’m with Stu-pid,” “Dirt,” “nip/Tuck,“ Pretty People“ or “Some Assembly Re-quired.” Or perhaps, if you were even more fortunate, you might have seen her in the play “The Long Red Road,” directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman.
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And, then again, if you haven’t seen her on television or in a play, you might have seen her run in the endeavor games, the Paralympic national Championships, or the Parapan American games.
if you did see her, you‘d remember. Her flaming red hair, green eyes, and the two titanium “Terminator” legs she wears make her difficult to ignore or to forget. She is certainly interesting - and unique - two great qualities for an actor, athlete, motivational speaker or spokesperson.
Growing up without legs Katy, the youngest of three, was born
without legs in Alabama. As a child, she swam, did gymnastics, and participated in the things her siblings were doing. Unfor-tunately, it wasn’t easy for her to keep up with the other kids who had two legs.
in those days, she’d often play with her prosthetic legs off, and children would ask her what happened to her legs, presumably because they wanted to avoid whatever it was. Having already de-veloped a flair for the dramatic, she’d tell them that she’d been attacked by a shark. “That was so much more dramatic,” she says with a smile, “than just telling them that i was born without my legs.”
Her parents encouraged her to have a sense of humor about her situation, and she has lived by that advice, although there were periods when it was difficult to do so. “Body image was a huge chal-lenge for me growing up,” she says. “The moment you notice boys, you want boys to notice you because you’re beautiful not because you have metal sticks for legs.”
She laughs about that situation today, although it’s clear that it was a painful experience at the time.
Today, comedian Jay Cramer, who uses a wheelchair, says that the first time he saw her in what he calls her “sexy, tita-nium Terminator legs,” he couldn’t take his eyes off of her - another example of Katy’s strong belief that everything hap-pens for a reason, even though we might not know it at the time. if she’d looked
just like everyone else that day, she might not have caught Jay’s eye and ended up marrying the man she calls “the sweetest guy in the world.”
Bitten by the acting bug When sports didn’t seem to be her forte as a child, Katy turned her energy toward
acting. “i wanted to be an actor before i knew
what that was,” Katy says. “i saw the movie “Annie” as a child and was hooked.”
Since that time, she began trying to figure out how to get there and considers herself fortunate that others did not try
to discourage her.“Although my parents would prob-
ably have liked me to have chosen a more stable career like teaching or being a doc-tor, they have always believed in me and encouraged me to do what makes me happy,” Katy says. “if people have discour-aged me, it just fell on deaf ears.”
She was also not discouraged by the lack of roles for actors with disabilities.
“i guess in my younger years, i was slightly naive in thinking that it didn’t matter,” she says. “i don’t feel disabled so why would i have to play characters that are disabled? in fact, in most of my career, i have played characters who are people - not only people with disabilities. But it is challenging at times.”
no matter what the obstacles, she per-severed and was willing to do whatever it took to get her prosthetic foot in the proverbial door.
She went on to earn a bachelor of fine arts degree in acting from Webster Uni-versity in St. Louis, Missouri, and then got a job at the prestigious goodman Theatre in Chicago. Her performing career has since taken her all over the country.
She says that she hasn’t faced any more rejection than any other actor.
“i think i have been lucky, and if there has been rejection, it’s happened behind closed doors,“ she says. “Anyway, i believe that we are exactly where we are meant to be in our lives, and if i missed out on a role, then it wasn’t meant to be mine. it’s hard sometimes, but that’s the game i signed up to play.”
She says that she has sought to work with people who can see past her physi-cal situation and just look at her as an actor.
“When i was cast in a Philip Seymour Hoffman production at the goodman Theatre in Chicago, my greatest challenge was dealing with the weather – not my disability,” she says.
“i love being an actor,“ she continues. “i’m very proud of the work i have done in my career, and i’m looking forward to the experiences that are waiting in the wings.
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it doesn’t matter how many times i walk onto a set or stand on a stage, i still feel the rush of excitement and wonder i did as a kid.”
Bitten by another bugWhen Katy went to California in 2004 to pursue her acting career, she also found another calling - running.
Her new prosthetist in L.A. - Will Yule of Hanger Clinic - talked to her about taking up running to get in shape. Her decision to give it a try, even though she was 25 years old and had never run before, would change her life.
“it wasn’t until the world changed and technology caught up with my spirit that i was even able to think about being an athlete,” Katy says. Hanger provided her with a new set of running leg that helped her dra-
matically, she says. With those legs, she started run-ning for the first time in March 2006, and, although it was difficult at first, she came to love it.
Although she first started running for fitness, one day, on a whim, she decided to run in a 60-meter race. When she got to the track and nervously lined up be-tween her competitors, she found out that she was running against 10-year-old kids.
“it was an incredibly humbling moment,” she says, “and i realized two things: one, that i was truly start-ing from square one with this thing, and two, that i better win. The gun went off, and in those next sec-onds, i did what no adult should do: i raced children and beat them. i don’t know if that makes me an awe-some athlete or a horrible person. Little did i know that at that very meet, there was a Paralympic coach
that was paying very close attention to what i was do-ing, and it was shortly after that that he was encour-aging me to take track more seriously.”
That’s when she began training for the US Parapan American team.
With support from prosthetics manufacturer Ossur and from Hanger Clinic, she got the special running legs that she needed for such high-level competition.
“Part of my running journey has been about just showing up,” she says. “i race women who have one leg and one prosthetic leg as i am the first bilateral above-knee racer to enter the sport. i meet their times and keep up with their standards. i am the first person in the world to do what i do.”
Running track has taken her all over the globe competing as a member of the US Paralympic team. in 2007, she broke the world record for the 200-meter race at the Paralympic national Championships.
“i look forward to representing the US again in the 2012 Paralympic games in London,” she says.
From ordinary to EXTRAordinaryAs a motivational speaker, Katy enjoys speaking to kids about their future.
“i tell them about my life growing up as an ampu-tee and how it made me feel different,“ she says. “All i ever wanted was to be an ordinary kid, just like every-one else, and it wasn’t until i was in my 20s that i real-ized that those things that make me different are the things that make me extraordinary. i truly believe that everything happens for a reason and there is a specific reason that i was born the way that i was - without my lower legs - and that reason is because that is how i am set apart from the rest of the pack.”
Katy also spreads her eternal optimism through her blog, which is aptly titled “Observations of an eternal Optimist.” Those two words, she says, sum up her personality.
Still, ike all people, Katy has her difficulties in life and says that she has a good cry every now and then.
“There are things in my life that i am continuing to work on, but i can’t remember the last time i cried be-cause of something caused by my physical difference,” she says.
indeed, Katy Sullivan did not get the memo about giving up and sitting on the couch because she has a phys-ical disability.
if she had, however, it’s likely that she would have simply crumbled it up, thrown it in the garbage, and gone on achieving the extraordinary.
For more information about Katy Sullivan, visit www.KatySullivan.net.
“All i ever wanted was to be an ordinary kid, just like everyone else, and it wasn’t until i was in my 20s that i realized that those things that make me different are the things that make me extraordinary. i truly believe that everything happens for a reason and there is a specific reason that i was born the way that i was - without my lower legs - and that reason is because that is how i am set apart from the rest of the pack.”
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Katy Sullivan: In Her Own Words
Life has been interesting for me.Being born without the lower halves of my legs, I have been a bilateral above-knee
“amputee” since minute one, and I have become incredibly successful at the use of prosthetic limbs and what I like to call “the art of blending in.”
I always believed that I could do anything I set my mind to, but sports were never in my line of vision until recently. I grew up with acting as my passion, my focus, and have been lucky in my work as an actress so far - but it wasn’t until I started working with William Yule, a prosthetist at Hanger Clinic, that this exciting new chapter began.
Learning to run was a challenge that I wasn’t expecting - it’s like walking but faster, right? Perhaps if you have muscle memory of running etched into your fibers, but it was a new task for me, and it took my body some time to figure out how to put one foot in front of the other. Little did I know that what I thought would be nice for health and fitness would change my life forever.
I have learned so much from my time as an athlete. Forget blending in. There is no way to hide behind carbon fiber sprinting feet. People see exactly who you are in an instant, and I had to get to a deeper level of self-acceptance - one that I didn’t know existed.
I have had many adventures since first competing as a member of the US Paralym-pic Track Team in 2007, and some of my proudest moments have been in different sta-diums around the world. The most recent was more eye-opening for me than all the others.
I attended the Parapan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, last year and was set to run the 100m for the USA. I was fit, ready, and willing to push myself and my competition to the limit. After we arrived, however, I learned that I was the only athlete in the Americas who had qualified for the event, which meant that I would have to run the race solo, without even the possibility of earning a medal.
And I am not talking about qualifying to run against bilateral above-knee ampu-tee women like myself. I usually have to race women who have one anatomical leg and meet their standards and keep up with them in spite of their clear advantage. Because of the limited categories for running, if I want to run, I usually have to run with them.
Anyway, at the Parapan American Games, it was fairly daunting thinking about be-ing the only person on the track. How do you push yourself when you are alone?
When the moment arrived, I was nervous. Then, I felt the warmth from the crowd, and I now know what it must feel like to be a rock star.
As I was standing out there alone, the entire stadium was screaming for me, and I knew exactly how I was going to push myself. I was going to take the energy and love of the people and channel that into my performance. I ran as hard as I could without fellow runners, and, at the end of the race, the spectators were chanting “USA, USA” so I joined in with them.
As I was leaving, a woman handed me a heart-shaped necklace, and when I looked down at it, I realized that that was the medal that I had come to get. It was a special moment in my life, and I will never forget it.
As I look forward to the Paralympic Games in London this summer, I am again given an incredible challenge to overcome. The standards for my class have recently risen to faster than I have ever run the 100m, and I am looking at a tough period of training to again represent the USA as an athlete.
This obstacle is not going to be an easy one to overcome, but what my life so far has taught me is that “obstacles” that are set before us are there to demonstrate how badly we want something. I look forward to the many challenges and successes that are coming my way and welcome them.
US paralympic Championships (Florida)Won 100m race. Scheduled to represent Team USA at the World Paralympic games in London in 2012. parapan American games (Mexico)Ran the 100m for the US. She was the only runner from the Americas who qualified to participate.
Endeavor games (Oklahoma)Won 100m race.
Look for Katy at the 2012 Paralympics in London starting on august 29!
2011 Athletic Achievements
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Waging the battle against secondary conditionsAmputation, as you might have already realized, doesn’t
strike alone. When it occurs, it brings many additional problems with it. That’s the bad news. The good news is
that many amputees have found success in dealing with these issues.
The following articles are intended to show you some possible ways to be among those individuals rather than among those amputees whose suffering only increases year after year.
if you have lost one of your legs as a result of diabetes, you will likely be at risk of losing your second leg and possibly your life, unless you take steps to prevent it.
if you were born missing a limb or lost one for any reason, you will likely face the deterioration of your muscles and bones, un-less you take steps to prevent it.
if you can deal with these issues or even prevent them, your life as an amputee and your ability to “amp up” your life to a higher level will be improved. it’s difficult to thrive when you’re dealing with brittle bones, weakness or the fear of losing another limb or even your life.
As you read the following articles and learn ways to help your-self, take the information very seriously. Your enjoyment of life - and even your life itself - could depend on it.
Prevention
14 AMp it Up! MAgAzine MAY/JUNE/JULY 2012
FACT: Diabetes is the cause of about 80% of the 120,000 non-traumatic amputations performed annually in the United States.
if you have had a diabetes-related amputation of one foot or leg, you are at higher risk of losing the other foot or leg. Worse yet, half of those who lose a leg will not survive five years.
if you have lost protective sensation for pain, have poor vision, or don’t inspect your feet, you may not be aware of a
problem until there is pus or blood on your socks, and, by then, it is usually too late.
The good news is that you don’t have to be one of those statis-tics. But, you do have to commit to being extra vigilant in detect-ing problems early and taking appropriate action. A very small issue – a scratch, a misstep, a tight shoe – could be the “trigger,” the minor event, that starts you on the road to major problems. Just like a gun, a simple trigger click can lead to an uncontrolled explosion, with dreadful consequences.
if one of the following “trigger” events happens to you, take recommended actions and see your foot care specialist imme-diately. A visit to the doctor is a small expense when weighed against the financial, emotional and psychological cost of a
Preventionby Dr. MarK HinKeS, DPM
Diabetic Amputation Save Your Remaining Leg - Be Alert to Triggers
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second foot or leg amputation.
Toenail IssuesToenail problems are very common and can cause pain or functional disabilities for people with diabetes. if you’ve already had an amputation, your foot care profes-sional should cut the toenails on the remaining foot.
if you hit your nail against an object like a doorframe or chair leg, or drop something on it, your nail will suffer blunt force trauma. You may suffer a he-matoma (blood under the nail) that may need to be evacuated to relieve your pain. Other treatment may include debriding (cleaning) or reducing the thickness of the nail. in some cases, the nail is perma-nently removed.
An ingrown toenail can be dangerous for people with diabetes. if a piece of your nail gets imbedded in the soft tissue ad-jacent to the nail, don’t attempt to solve this problem on your own. A podiatrist can remove a portion of the side of the nail in a painless procedure under local anesthesia. You will need to wear a surgi-cal shoe until the site heals.
if you get a toenail fungus, mold or yeast infection, your nail may thicken and change color. A deformed toenail can scrape the adjacent toe and cause an ul-cer or cause a collection of pus (abscess) to develop under the toenail as a result of pressure from the shoe against the nail. A soft tissue infection that goes unat-tended may turn into a bone infection.
Common Foot Problemsinspect your feet daily, and contact a pro-fessional if you detect an unexplained foot odor, redness, warmth, pus, tenderness, pain, swelling, abnormal positioning, or if you have trouble putting weight on your
Diabetic Amputation Save Your Remaining Leg - Be Alert to Triggers
foot. Fever, chills and high blood pressure combined with elevated blood sugars may mean an infection has spread; go to an emergency Room immediately.
PainPain is a red flag; if you have any of the following foot health issues, seek medical attention. • Heel pain may be inflamed soft
tissue but can also result from a broken bone, a tight Achilles tendon, a pinched nerve, arthritis or other problems.
• Ankle sprains, if left untreated,
increase your risk of repeated sprains and chronic ankle instability.
• Big toe stiffness and pain usually develops over time as the cartilage in the big toe joint wears down and eventually leads to arthritis. The sooner a doctor diagnoses it, the easier it is to treat.
• Achilles tendonitis causes pain and tenderness at the back of the foot or heel, usually from a sudden increase in physical activity.
• pinched nerves, neuritis and neuromas are nerve problems that can affect the front of the foot, heel and/or ankle. The most common nerve problem in people with diabetes is a burning, shooting, tingling or numbing feeling in the area of the toes and just behind the toes on the bottom of the foot. Testing is available to identify each of
the possible reasons for your pain, so there
FACT: every 30 seconds, a limb is lost due to diabetes.
16 AMp it Up! MAgAzine MAY/JUNE/JULY 2012
is no need to suffer when it can be diag-nosed and treated.
Woundsif you have diabetes, you have a greater risk for complications from wounds. Be-cause diabetes decreases your blood flow and alters the function of your immune system, your injuries are slower to heal than those in someone who does not have the disease. if you also have peripheral
sensory neuropathy (the loss of protective sensation of pain in your feet), you won’t necessarily notice an injury right away.
There’s no such thing as a “minor” wound to the foot when you have diabe-tes; even a small foot sore can turn into an ulcer that, if not properly treated, can lead to amputation.
Any wound that doesn’t heal in four weeks is cause for concern, as it may result in a worse outcome, including amputation.
if you have a wound: • Clean it with warm soapy water and
dry it well.• Put an antibiotic cream on it
immediately. • Cover it with light gauze and keep
pressure off of it. • Don’t wear closed shoes.
See your foot care specialist or a local wound center within seven days at most if the wound hasn’t responded to treatment.
Foot UlcersA foot ulcer is an open sore, wound or hole somewhere on your foot - a crater-shaped
break in the skin. These ulcers often occur in high-pressure areas – under or around a corn or callus. The break may appear to be small, but a larger ulcer may be hidden under the skin growth or keratosis. Up to 82% of foot ulcers are related to pressure from footwear or narrow or otherwise inadequate or improperly fitted footwear. Foot ulcers can be caused by painless or silent trauma from mechanical, chemical or thermal origin.
Most ulcers that lead to amputation can be prevented through daily foot in-spection and care, regular visits to your physician and podiatrist, foot-care educa-tion, wearing proper shoes, and early rec-ognition and treatment of any suspected trouble areas. A special infrared ther-mometer can be used to check your foot temperature once a day; a four-degree difference between one region of the foot compared to the other foot requires pro-fessional attention.
InfectionsFoot infections in people with diabetes become more severe and take longer to cure than the same infections in people without diabetes. They account for the largest number of diabetes-related hospi-tal admissions and are the most common non-traumatic cause of amputations. if left untreated, infections can threaten life and limb.
if you have a bacterial infection, it means that bacteria have penetrated your skin - the protective envelope that covers your body. Most infections start off as mild infections but also have the potential to become serious. Foot infections often start out small and are relatively easy to treat. A doctor can best determine the cause and appropriate treatment. By identifying the specific bacteria causing the problem, the most-effective antibiotic and method of delivery (oral, topical, intravenous, injec-tion) can be prescribed.
A bone infection, or osteomyelitis, for example, is the most-feared foot compli-cation for a person with diabetes. Bone infections most often occur when bacteria
Prevention
FACT: After a person with diabetes has a major amputation, there is a 50% chance that he or she will have the other limb amputated within two years.
filling in lifeʼsmissing pieces.
Fun empowering adventures for teens and adults with limb differences and limb loss.To support or take part in an adventure, visit footprintsadventures.org
18 AMp it Up! MAgAzine MAY/JUNE/JULY 2012
gain access to the bone from a nearby soft tissue infection or foot ulcer. early detec-tion can limit the destruction of the bone and may resolve the infection with antibi-otics rather than surgery. Osteomyelitis in the diabetic foot can lead to limb loss and life-threatening complications, such as blood poisoning, known as septicemia.
The dark, moist and warm environment inside your shoe is the perfect place for mold, yeast and fungus to prosper. infec-tions caused by these troublemakers may occur on your nails, between your toes, or on the sides or bottom of your foot. They are usually responsible for superficial skin infections on your foot, often referred to as tinea pedis, or “athlete’s foot.”
if you notice whitish, inflamed, itchy and peeling skin on the foot, you may think you just have dry skin, but you may have a mold, yeast or fungal infection. Do not scratch this itch because the infection can spread to other parts of your body via your hands.
Practice Preventive Foot Health if you practice preventive foot-health behaviors, the chances of developing a problem will be minimal. You will identify problems early and resolve them promptly.
inspecting your feet every day is the most cost-effective way to prevent foot issues and reduce your healthcare costs. exercise, proper nutrition and smoking cessation, which are important in diabetes care in general, are also important in pre-venting amputations.
For more information and to learn about Dr. Hinkes’ books Keep the Legs You Stand On and Healthy Feet for People with Dia-betes, please visit www.dr-mark.net (under construction–expected to launch in October 2012).
this information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the specific advice of your doctor or other healthcare professional. Contact your doctor or other healthcare professional immediately if you have an emergency.
Dr. Mark Hinkes is chief of podiatry and director of podiatric medical education at the Veterans Affairs medical Center/tennessee Valley Healthcare System in Nashville,
tennessee, and author of Keep the Legs You Stand On, the first book on foot health for people with diabetes that focuses on amputation prevention, and Healthy Feet for People with Diabetes. He was chairman of the preservation Amputation Care and treatment (pACt) program for a decade. He is certified by the American Board of podiatric Surgery and the American professional Wound Care Association and is a diplomat of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. He is a member of the American podiatric medical Association, the Federal Services podiatric medical Association, and the American Diabetes Association.
Dr. Hinkes earned a B.S. in psychology from Loyola University of Chicago, Illinois, in 1973 and graduated from the Ohio College of podiatric medicine in 1976. He trained at Westchester General Hospital in miami, Florida, and opened a private medical practice there with privileges at Westchester, South miami and Baptist Hospitals and Kendall Regional medical Center. In Florida, he taught podiatric medicine to undergraduates at Barry University, was president of the Dade County podiatric medical Association, and became bilingual in English and Spanish.
In 1998, he left South Florida to join the Veterans Affairs medical Center in Salem, Virginia, as chief of their podiatric service. He served as the VA’s national field advisor for quality assurance in podiatric medicine.
During his 30+ year career, Dr. Hinkes has also served as a consultant, clinical instructor, a lecturer and an author of peer-reviewed journal articles. In his leisure time, he enjoys gardening, traveling, and creating stained glass art.
Dr. Hinkes is an editorial advisory board member for AmputeeNews.com and Amp it Up! magazine.
Prevention
19MAY/JUNE/JULY 2012 AMp it Up! MAgAzine
What can I do to take care of my feet?Wash your feet in warm water every day. Make sure the water is not too hot by testing the temperature with your elbow. Do not soak your feet. Dry your feet well, especially between your toes.
Look at your feet every day to check for cuts, sores, blis-ters, redness, calluses, or other problems. Checking every day is even more important if you have nerve damage or poor blood flow. if you cannot bend over or pull your feet up to check them, use a mirror. if you cannot see well, ask someone else to check your feet.
if your skin is dry, rub lotion on your feet after you wash and dry them. Do not put lotion between your toes.
File corns and calluses gently with an emery board or pumice stone. Do this after your bath or shower.
Cut your toenails once a week or when needed. Cut toe-nails when they are soft from washing. Cut them to the shape of the toe and not too short. File the edges with an emery board.
Always wear slippers or shoes to protect your feet from injuries.
Foot care for people with diabetes
Source: nationaL DiabeteS inforMation cLearingHouSe
Always wear socks or stockings to avoid blisters. Do not wear socks or knee-high stockings that are too tight below your knee.
Wear shoes that fit well. Shop for shoes at the end of the day when your feet are bigger. Break in shoes slowly. Wear them 1 to 2 hours each day for the first few weeks.
Before putting your shoes on, feel the insides to make sure they have no sharp edges or objects that might injure your feet.
How can my doctor help me take care of my feet?tell your doctor right away about any foot problems.
Your doctor should do a complete foot exam every year.
Ask your doctor to look at your feet at each diabetes checkup. To make sure your doctor checks your feet, take off your shoes and socks before your doctor comes into the room.
Ask your doctor to check how well the nerves in your feet sense feeling.
Ask your doctor to check how well blood is flowing to your legs and feet.
Ask your doctor to show you the best way to trim your toenails. Ask what lotion or cream to use on your legs and feet.
if you cannot cut your toenails or you have a foot problem, ask your doctor to send you to a foot doctor. A doctor who cares for feet is called a podiatrist.
Amp It Up! Editor’s Note: This article is provided for general educational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for care from a qualified physician. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider about your indi-vidual situation.
20 AMp it Up! MAgAzine MAY/JUNE/JULY 2012
Health Notes
The Role of Strength Training in “Amping Up” Your LifeThe article below was reprinted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/growing_stronger/why.htm)
Why strength training?Research has shown that strengthening ex-ercises are both safe and effective for women and men of all ages, including those who are not in perfect health. in fact, people with health concerns — including heart disease or arthritis — often benefit the most from an exercise program that includes lifting weights a few times each week.
Strength training, particularly in conjunc-tion with regular aerobic exercise, can also have a profound impact on a person’s mental and emotional health.
Benefits of Strength TrainingThere are numerous benefits to strength
training regularly, particularly as you grow older. it can be very powerful in reducing the signs and symptoms of numerous diseases and chronic conditions, among them:• arthritis• diabetes• osteoporosis• obesity• back pain• depression
Arthritis ReliefTufts University completed a strength-training program with older men and women with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis. The results of this 16-week program showed that strength training decreased pain by 43%, increased muscle strength and general physi-cal performance, improved the clinical signs and symptoms of the disease, and decreased disability. The effectiveness of strength
WHEtHER “AMpiNg Up” YoUR LiFE iNvoLvES pARtiCipAtiNg iN SpoRtS AND RECREAtioN ACtivitiES, ExtREME oR otHERWiSE, oR SiMpLY ADDiNg A REgU-LAR WALK to YoUR NEigHBoR’S HoUSE FoR A gAME oF CHECKERS, CHESS oR CARDS, StRENgtH tRAiNiNg WiLL HELp YoU ENHANCE YoUR ABiLitY to MEEt tHE goALS RELAtED to YoUR ENHANCED LiFE.
Amp It Up! Editor’s Note:: Always consult a medical doctor before beginning any new exercise or fitness program.
21MAY/JUNE/JULY 2012 AMp it Up! MAgAzine
training to ease the pain of osteoarthritis was just as potent, if not more potent, as medica-tions. Similar effects of strength training have been seen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Restoration of Balance and Reduction of FallsAs people age, poor balance and flexibility contribute to falls and broken bones. These fractures can result in significant disabil-ity and, in some cases, fatal complications. Strengthening exercises, when done prop-erly and through the full range of motion, increase a person’s flexibility and balance, which decrease the likelihood and severity of falls. One study in new zealand in women 80 years of age and older showed a 40% reduc-tion in falls with simple strength and balance training.
Strengthening of BonePost-menopausal women can lose 1-2% of their bone mass annually. Results from a study conducted at Tufts University, which were published in the Journal of the American medical Association in 1994, showed that strength training increases bone density and reduces the risk for fractures among women aged 50-70.
Proper Weight MaintenanceStrength training is crucial to weight control because individuals who have more muscle mass have a higher metabolic rate. Muscle is active tissue that consumes calories while stored fat uses very little energy. Strength training can provide up to a 15% increase in metabolic rate, which is enormously helpful for weight loss and long-term weight control.
Improved Glucose ControlMillions of Americans have type 2 diabetes — and the numbers are climbing. in addition
The Role of Strength Training in “Amping Up” Your Lifeto being at greater risk for heart and renal disease, diabetes is also the leading cause of blindness in older adults. Fortunately, studies now show that lifestyle changes such as strength training have a profound impact on helping older adults manage their diabetes. in a study of Hispanic men and women, 16 weeks of strength training produced dramatic improvements in glucose control that are comparable to taking diabetes medication. Additionally, the study volunteers were stronger, gained muscle, lost body fat, had less depression, and felt much more self-confident.
Healthy State of MindStrength training provides similar improve-ments in depression as anti-depressant medications. Currently, it is not known if this is because people feel better when they are stronger or if strength training produces a helpful biochemical change in the brain. it is most likely a combination of the two. When older adults participate in strength-training programs, their self-confidence and self-esteem improve, which has a strong impact on their overall quality of life.
Sleep ImprovementPeople who exercise regularly enjoy improved sleep quality. They fall asleep more quickly, sleep more deeply, awaken less often, and sleep longer. As with depression, the sleep benefits obtained as a result of strength training are comparable to treatment with medication but without the side effects or the expense.
Healthy Heart TissueStrength training is important for cardiac health because heart disease risk is lower when the body is leaner. One study found that cardiac patients gained not only strength and flexibility but also aerobic
capacity when they did strength training three times a week as part of their rehabilitation pro-gram. This and other studies have prompted the American Heart Association to recommend strength training as a way to reduce risk of heart disease and as a therapy for patients in cardiac rehabilitation programs.
Research and Background About Strength TrainingScientific research has shown that exercise can slow the physiological aging clock. While aero-bic exercise, such as walking, jogging or swim-ming, has many excellent health benefits — it maintains the heart and lungs and increases cardiovascular fitness and endurance — it does not make your muscles strong. Strength training does. Studies have shown that lifting weights two or three times a week increases strength by building muscle mass and bone density.
One 12-month study conducted on post-menopausal women at Tufts University demonstrated 1% gains in hip and spine bone density, 75% increases in strength and 13% in-creases in dynamic balance with just two days per week of progressive strength training. The control group had losses in bone, strength and balance. Strength-training programs can also have a profound effect on reducing risk for falls, which translates to fewer fractures.
Content Source: Division of nutrition, Physi-cal Activity and Obesity, national Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promo-tion (www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa and www.cdc.gov/nccdphp)
Learn More and Find Specific Exerciseswww.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/ growing_stronger/index.htm
22 AMp it Up! MAgAzine MAY/JUNE/JULY 2012
TM
ADN_FlPg.indd 1 12/27/11 7:59:42 AM
Athletes with Disabilities Network’s missionTo promote a better quality of life for people with physical disabilities by creating awareness and offering opportunities to get involved with athletic, recreational and educational activities nationwide.
248.829.8353www.adnpage.org | www.extremitygames.com
facebook/adnpage | facebook/extremitygames
October 25, 2012 - Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame Induction CeremonySound Board at the MotorCity Casino in Detroit, MichiganRecognizing and honoring men and women who have overcome physical challenges to become elite athletes and superior role models.
23MAY/JUNE/JULY 2012 AMp it Up! MAgAzine
AFtER CiNDY ASCH-MARtiN’S LEFt LEg HAD to BE AMpUtAtED oN JUNE 27, 2011, HER CHoSEN CAREER AND tHE KNoWL-EDgE tHAt WENt WitH it CAME iN qUitE HANDY.
For about 13 years, she had been keeping herself and others in shape as a certified personal trainer, and when she lost her leg, she already
knew how to take care of her body - an un-derstanding that has been very important to her ability to succeed as an amputee.
Proving it “After my leg was amputated, the hos-
pital’s occupational therapist and physical therapist said they needed to teach me how to walk now that my body was no longer in balance,“ Asch-Martin recalls. “i couldn’t help but laugh. i explained that i was a certified personal trainer and that is what i do for a living. They said, ‘Prove it,’ so i got my walker and walked around the entire hospital floor. Once we got back to my room, they said, ‘Yep, you don’t need us.’ They realized i would be just fine. i was very thankful for my former focus on core stability. i knew that it was the best form of exercise for my situation because it strengthens the entire body; it made my recovery effortless. i was back at the gym two days after leaving the hospital.”
Before having her amputation, she‘d al-ready had multiple surgeries to try to save her leg, and she‘d bounced back pretty
Active Livingby Amp It Up! Staff
Physical training pays off big for new amputee
well each time, largely due to her excellent physical condition.
“My only down time was a few days after each surgery,” she says. “i knew i needed to make money to help pay my bills, to occupy my mind, and to keep busy helping others.
Continuing to improve After her amputation, Asch-Martin also
returned to working out to preserve her sanity and strength, mainly focusing on core training, using the BOSU ball, resist-a-balls, cables, and anything that uses the entire body.
“i would also use my wheelchair and/or crutches for my cardio,“ she says, “since i didn’t have a leg to stand on (sorry, but we do have a sense of humor). And i also did my gardening, feeding my squirrels, vacuuming, and all the household chores. Someone needed to do it! i even washed both vehicles. i would use my walker if necessary.”
She says that her speedy recovery con-firmed what she knew all along.
“Working out is so important, espe-cially stability exercises,” she says. “As we age, our balance gets worse so it is so im-portant to keep our core strong.“
Before the amputationAfter noticing a bump on her Achil-
les tendon in February 2009, Asch-Martin would have never imagined that, after numerous unsuccessful efforts to solve
24 AMp it Up! MAgAzine MAY/JUNE/JULY 2012
the problem, it would ultimately result in the amputation of her leg. Still, when the amputation was finally done, it lifted a tre-mendous weight off of her shoulders.
She had gone through five surgeries between March 2010 and June 2011 trying to save the leg.
“After the leg was gone, i finally felt worry-free,” she says, explaining that the time and effort to try to save it with sur-geries had been more difficult than the amputation. Once the amputation was done, she says, she could move on with her life.
“i found that to be my magic pill. The endorphins i got from doing cardio and other exercise were, without a doubt, the best medicine that anyone could prescribe.”
says. “The endorphins i got from doing cardio and other exercise were, without a doubt, the best medicine that anyone could prescribe.”
Passing it onAfter she’d been working out at the
gym for a while, other members started asking her for help.
“i told them i didn’t work there and that they needed to speak with someone who did,” she says. “Oddly enough, they still wanted me to help them so the man-agement at the gym hired me, and that’s how my life’s path took a new turn. i was soon certified as a personal trainer, and then my fitness instructor’s certification followed. i quickly became one of the most popular trainers and fitness instructors there.”
in 2002, she received her ACe (Ameri-can Council on exercise) certification,
which is recognized nationally, although she’d been certified through the Canadian Personal Trainers network (CPTn) since 1997. She then began working for Bally’s Total Fitness in 2003 before starting her own personal training business, Personal Affects, in April 2009.
“Physical fitness is essential for every-one,” she says. “Humans have such bad habits. They destroy their bodies, and the only way to help them is through teaching and guidance and explaining how their
Discovering the best medicineAsch-Martin had actually stumbled on
physical fitness as a “medicine“ more than a decade earlier.
“in 1997, my first marriage was coming to an end, and i was going through a de-pression,” she says. “My doctor put me on antidepressants, and they just made me worse.”
At that point, she decided to take mat-ters into her own hands and joined an all-women’s gym.
“i found that to be my magic pill,” she
25MAY/JUNE/JULY 2012 AMp it Up! MAgAzine
actions are hurting them. exercise helps many medical conditions, and i have had wonderful success with my clients who were no longer able to do simple things, such as tying their shoes, getting in and out of the bathtub, etcetera. i even helped prepare one of my clients for the removal of a tumor from one of her lungs. The surgery and her recovery went with ease due to the types of exercises we did to strengthen what was left of her lung ca-pacity. i also kept her legs and upper body strong so that she could move without much stress or strain.”
Help from othersBeing an amputee has been a life-
changing experience, and other ampu-tees have been very helpful, Asch-Martin says. “i found that if i needed a question answered, who better to answer it than another amputee. i joined empowering Amputees (www.empoweringAmputees.com) - group of amputees online who have helped me feel like i fit in again. i don’t feel so alone. even though non-am-putees want to say they understand or of-fer advice, they mean well, but it is not the same. i am in a new world now.”
She actually feels that her emotional health improved after the amputation be-cause she was no longer concerned about the leg and the pain it caused.
“i have no regrets,” she says. “i am a very strong-minded person, and i have al-ways tried to find the positive in things.”
Helping others“i really want to help other ampu-
tees and other people in general to get their bodies fit and ready for the unex-pected,” she says. “From my online ampu-tee group, i learned that so many of them gain weight after losing a limb. Many of them waited until they got their prosthe-sis and only then began to start exercising again to try to lose all the weight they had gained. i was the opposite and was very active from the get-go after my amputa-tion. in fact, i actually lost approximately 25 pounds even without trying to.”
Because she knows how important it is, Asch-Martin encourages other amputees to stay in shape or start getting physically fit.
“it’s okay to start slowly because slowly
is better than sitting and doing nothing,” she says. “Try a little bit more each day, and try to be positive and not negative. i try to offer helpful tips to those in my online amputee group who have gained weight and want their lives back. i have actually started a virtual online training via webcam for those who cannot afford a gym and the hefty fees involved. i do not charge much for my training sessions; i am here to help others, and that is what helps me feel good.”
Since her amputation, Asch-Martin says that she is more determined than ever to
help others and make a difference.“i want to work with other amputees to
help them get their lives back on track and give them the confidence, independence and self-esteem that they once had,” she says. “My clients’ success is what keeps me going. i love to hear them say how thank-ful they are for what they are able to do after working with me. it is such a great feeling.”
For more information about Cindy Asch-martin and her company personal Affects, visit www.personal-Affects.com.
26 AMp it Up! MAgAzine MAY/JUNE/JULY 2012
Research has proven that stress, anger and anxiety, when triggered in an athlete, can tighten muscles, tense up the body, hamper and negatively affect breathing, and generally act as a hindrance to per-formance. This result is no different if you are 25, 35 or 45!
in short, many athletes don’t reach their performance potential because of thinking too much and improper breathing.
For 10 months i have been lucky enough to be working with one of the most respected sports psychologists and mental performance experts in the world. On Saturday morning, May 26th, 2012, i acted as kind of bio-neuro feedback test subject to show how our thoughts translate instantly into emotions, and emotions into physiological responses.
That day, the team from the mental performance training center gave a demonstration of the biofeedback/neurofeedback techniques used to train athletes in things like mental toughness and proper breathing, and i was the test subject.
Hooked up to sophisticated transmitters that registered a number of indi-cators on a screen, i was questioned by a relaxation and stress management consultant. The questions evoked reactions in my mind and body. graphs on a screen would rise and fall as i got my thoughts under control by moderat-ing my breathing and relaxing my mind.
One basic concept is that when tension builds up in the upper body and shoulders it makes it very difficult to breathe properly from the diaphragm. Tension in the shoulders slows an athlete down.
The question is: Why does tension build up in the shoulders?There are a number of reasons this can happen:
1 Previous injuries2 Worrying about the expectations of a coach3 Worrying about the expectations of a parent4 Fear of failingThis can all lead to a “busy brain,” or thinking too much.
While a busy mind might be good for multi-tasking activities, it’s not good for sports or activities that require focus. in high-focus sports, a busy mind is the last thing you want.
i can honestly say that the techniques i learned from my mental perfor-mance coach have helped me calm down, breath better, and conserve more energy. in an endurance sport like weightlifting, such skills are indispensable. i also sleep much better now that i have more control over my thoughts.
The mental and breathing aspects of sports and non-sports activities are key in elite performance. Learn to respect and use them to set up your game.
i should mention that i used this training and testing as part of my train-ing for my guinness World Record for the most squat-lifted weight in one hour, hoisting 127,000 pounds.
to find more information on Walter Urban and his World and National re-cords, please visit www.walterurban.com.
Sports Talkby WaLter urban
25, 35, 45Mental Performance – Its Effect on Fitness & Training
27MAY/JUNE/JULY 2012 AMp it Up! MAgAzine
Camp no Limits (CnL) has announced its 2012-2013 camp schedule, and it is
offering fun and educational experiences throughout the year.
CnL camps provide a unique family camping expe-rience that offers parent and child peer support, adapted recreational activities, and state-of-the-art prosthetic education. CnL offers pro-grams designed by specialized occupational and physical ther-apists, prosthetists and adult amputees aimed at optimiz-ing the functional independ-ence of children living with limb loss.
According to CnL, attend-ees can expect the following benefits: • Learn about the latest
prosthetic options available, including myoelectric technology, recreational options, adaptive equipment, and organizations that help fund prosthetic components
• Learn about recreational programs available for children with limb loss
• Learn functional ways to complete various daily living skills with or without prosthetic devices and participate in challenging recreational activities
• Develop self-confidence, personal aspirations, and lasting friendships with children and families
Who Should Attend?• Children and adults with
limb loss • Family members of
children with limb loss • Healthcare professionals
and prosthetic specialists Note: A parent or caregiver is required to attend for children under age 10.
2012-2013 Camp No Limits Schedule Camp No Limits Maryland October 5-8northeast Maryland
Camp No Limits Florida november 15-18ellenton, Florida
Camp No Limits ArizonaFebruary 21-24, 2013Oracle, Arizona (near Tucson)
to learn more about Camp No Limits or register online, visit www.nolimitsfoundation.org.
Upcoming Events
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Inspiration and motivation for all
a statement NOT a question
it's an attitude
it's a book
it's a new TV show
http://youtube.com/user/WSICTV
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a statementNOT a question
it’s an attitude
it’s a book
it’s a new TV show
Inspiration and motivation for all
by Amp It Up! Staff
sCOTT ODOM WAS JUST 14 YeARS OLD WHen DeATH SeeMeD TO COMe BAnging AT HiS DOOR.
Diagnosed with cancer and required to undergo chemotherapy treatments and the amputation of his right leg to try to save his life, Odom was afraid of dying each and every day.
“The whole time i was in the hospital and even a few months after my treat-ments,” he says, “i stayed in a constant state of being scared and worrying that i wasn’t going to wake up the next day.”
This situation of constantly facing death gave the young man a new perspec-tive on life. After that, no matter how dif-ficult things have gotten - and there have been many difficult times since then - eve-rything else is easy in comparison.
This perspective has definitely helped Odom face his new life as an amputee and the trials and tribulations he has encoun-tered as he chased his dreams.
A Dream Never LostAfter Odom lost his leg and survived can-cer in 1998 (the year he went into remis-sion), it didn’t take long for his dreams of being a basketball player to return.
“My dreams never changed,“ he says. “i still had a burning passion to be an ath-lete. it was all i knew, and i didn’t want something like cancer or being an ampu-tee to stop me from reaching my dreams. Though i was dealt a tougher hand than most, it was all up to me how i played that hand.”
The problem was that there was re-ally no opportunity to be the athlete he wanted to be. Although others encour-aged him to train for the Paralympics or play wheelchair basketball, his heart
Never Give Up!
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wasn’t in either of those existing pro-grams. His passion was playing stand-up basketball - a sport that didn‘t exist in any organized way for amputees.
After searching for opportunities to participate in the sport for many years, Odom finally faced the reality: if he was going to achieve his dream, he was going to have to start a stand-up basketball pro-gram on his own.
Struggling for the DreamAfter sending out flyers for about 7 years to get the word out about stand-up bas-ketball and to find others who were inter-ested in participating in the sport, he had received zero response - certainly enough disappointment to crush the dreams of most people. And yet, even though he was exhausted from so many failed efforts, he refused to give up and tried something else.
in 2008, he posted a video on YouTube of him playing basketball in his backyard and saying that he was looking for other amputees who wanted to play stand-up basketball. He was thrilled when he got his first response.
“Tyler Hyatt, an above-knee amputee from Utah, contacted me and asked me to call him,” Odom says. “i called him up, and we spoke for more than 2 hours. it was like talking to myself. We wanted to play so bad and had the same vision and goals. A few months later, after talking daily on the phone, we decided to do this on our own. Although we felt like everyone was against us and we had no support, we started Amp 1 Stand Up Amputee Basket-ball. After all that we had been through, we now had the rights to something we had both dreamed about for so long. it was a huge step and accomplishment for us.”
Never Give Up!Favorite Basketball Team and Player“i am a huge Dallas Mavericks fan. i love Dirk nowitzki, but my favorite basketball player is Ray Allen. i like players in all sports who just play the game. They don’t mouth off, show off, or act a fool on and off the court. Ray Allen is quiet like i am and just plays the game and works hard at it. i love to shoot the 3-point, which is my shot, and Ray Allen is the best to ever do it.”
Position“i have played point or shooting guard.”
Nickname“My teammates nicknamed me ‘The Chosen One’ because of my role in the creation of Amp 1.”
Motto“i have four tattoos. On my back across my shoulders i have the words ‘never give Up,’ which is my motto in life.”
Music That Inspires “i love and am always listen-ing to music, especially music that has a message and that has meaning to my life. i play basketball and grew up playing it, and basketball and hip-hop go hand in hand. Songs like ‘Underdog’ by Kia Shine or ‘All the Above’ by Maino or ‘Back-ground’ by Lecrae are songs that inspire me a lot. When i listen to them, it truly feels that these songs were made for me - word for word.”
Favorite Musician/Singer“My favorite musician is Chamil-lionaire. not only is he from
Scott Odom Facts of Lifemy home state, Texas, but his music really hits home with me, and the messages he has in his music are about overcoming things and succeeding. Songs like ‘Won’t Let You Down’ or ‘good Morning’ or one of my favorites, ‘Rocky Road,’ have so much meaning to me.”
Personal Theme Song Would Be “it would definitely be ‘Under-dog’ by Kia Shine.”
Amp 1’s Theme Song Would Be“Probably ‘All the Above’ by Maino or ‘i Made it’ by Kevin Rudolf.”
Career Goals“My main goal is to create the first stand-up amputee basket-ball league. Tyler Hyatt and i are on the road to doing that with Amp 1. i would love to turn my book into a movie to be able to reach more people than those i have already been blessed to reach. i would love to be a full-time motivational speaker, spreading my message about overcoming adversity, never giving up, and showing people all over how god has impacted my life to glorify Him and show his work.”
Favorite Charity“The P.L.A.Y. Foundation (www.playfoundation.net). This foundation provides financial resources to help amputee youths stay active. i am a huge supporter of what they are do-ing and am hoping to do bigger things with them in the future.”
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in the meantime, Odom continued to receive messages from other amputees around the country who wanted to partici-pate. “Before i knew it,” he says, “we had 7 or 8 guys all over the country who wanted to play.”
Unfortunately, having players around the country who wanted to play together posed another major problem. With one in Texas, one in Utah, and others in
California, Michigan, new York and other parts of the country, how were they going to all meet in one location and practice and play together?
“We knew that if this was going to go anywhere, we were going to have to sacri-fice and commit,” Odom says. “At first, we had to pay our own way for everything. We entered in a small 3-on-3 tournament in elgin, Texas, and were the only amputees
in the tournament. There were only 6 teams in the tournament, but we took 2nd and 3rd place. To play, we had to sacrifice, pay our own way, take off of work, and be away from our families in hopes that it would one day pay off.”
it was struggle after struggle after struggle, but Odom and Hyatt, encouraged by the other players who began to join them, continued to carry on.
“it hasn’t been easy to start this team,” Odom says. “We have had many, many, many people not believe in us. For every success we have had, there were 10 times more letdowns and disappointments. Pur-suing and chasing a dream that doesn’t exist and basically having to start from the ground up is frustrating, daring, very scary, and the most rewarding thing i have ever done. i just had to put everything in god’s hands and follow his path and plan for me and Amp 1.”
Seeing Some SuccessOdom and Hyatt finally found some success and were able to establish a full-fledged team. And more recently, they’ve started getting noticed and getting some support.
Freedom innovations, a prosthet-ics manufacturer, became a sponsor and helps pay for the team’s travel to games and to visit hospitals, clinics and schools where their presentations provide inspira-tion, motivation and hope to adults and children facing their own challenges. The company has also provided the players with high-tech prosthetic feet and/or knees to use in the sport.
in addition, the team received support from the P.L.A.Y. Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides financial re-sources for amputee youths to participate in the arts, education and sports.
With this support, the team has now played in Dallas, new York City, Wash-ington, D.C., Kansas City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Detroit and Salt Lake City. They have played half-time at the Dallas Mav-ericks game, have played and had a photo shoot at the legendary Rucker Park in Harlem, and have played at the biggest 3-on-3 tournament in the country - the nike 3-on-3 tournament in Los Angeles - where one of their teams took 3rd place in its bracket. The team also plays in char-ity challenge games nationwide, includ-ing against able-bodied teams, to benefit physically challenged students, amputees
“My dreams never changed. i still had a burning passion to be an athlete. it was all i knew, and i didn’t want something like cancer or being an amputee to stop me from reaching my dreams. Though i was dealt a tougher hand than most, it was all up to me how i played that hand.”
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and cancer patients. “We love working with kids and have
visited schools and camps to tell them our stories and share the message of never giving up no matter what,” Odom says.
More to Come Odom has certainly come a long way since the days when he stood in his back-yard shooting a basketball all alone. He has co-founded the only organized team of amputees playing stand-up basket-ball in the country, has opened doors for numerous amputees to play stand-up basketball, and has spread the team’s message of hope far and wide. And that’s just the beginning.
“The sky is the limit for us,” he says. “We still have a long way to go but have accomplished a lot in a short amount of time.”
Since the team’s inaugural national tour in 2011 with the help of sponsors Freedom innovations and the P.L.A.Y. Foun-dation garnered sold-out games and a growing fan base, AMP 1 now has a mis-sion to grow stand-up amputee basketball into an organized national league so more people can get involved and benefit from the sport.
Members of the team recently went to germany to attend a tradeshow with Freedom innovations. it was their first trip abroad to spread the word about Amp 1.
The AMP 1 team members, all of whom have limb differences due to traumatic ac-cidents, congenital differences or disease, ultimately seek to inspire others to put ad-versity behind them to follow their dreams and overcome whatever challenges they may face in life.
“As an amputee, you can either be an-gry at the world and let self-pity ruin your life or you can be thankful for what you still have and know that you are still here and there is still a purpose for you in this world,” Odom says. “Amp 1 has given us something to live for, has helped us with the daily struggles we go through, and has given us all inspiration and hope to never give up.
“Ultimately, it is up to you how far you are going to push yourself in your life,” Odom continues. “no one is going to give you a handout, walk for you, run for you, or do anything for you. if you stay commit-ted to your dream, no matter how long it takes or how hard it becomes, it will even-tually happen. We are living proof of that.
“it hasn’t been easy to start this team. We have had many, many, many people not believe in us. For every success we have had, there were 10 times more letdowns and disappointments. Pursuing and chasing a dream that doesn’t exist and basically having to start from the ground up is frustrating, daring, very scary, and the most rewarding thing i have ever done.”
it takes a goal, motivation, courage and the heart to follow your dreams no matter what. if you have the heart, put in the hard work, stay committed and put god first, you will achieve your goals.”
To learn more about Scott Odom and AMP 1, visit www.amp1basketball.com. For more information about how to join AMP 1 or schedule a game or speaking gig in your city, contact Scott Odom at
[email protected] or Tyler Hyatt at [email protected]. To order Odom’s book Stand Up: I Lost my Leg to Cancer Not my Dream, visit www.amp1basketball.com/support-shop/
To watch the amazing nike and Jordan “Rise Above” video featuring Amp 1, visit http://youtu.be/KMQxDueqvXo
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Tell your friends, family members, and other amputees about these informative publications today!
AmputeeNews.com
AmpItUpMag.com