assistive technologies august / september 2011

By Dominic Musgrave

‘BRAIN cap’ technology and neural interfacesoftware being developed at an Americanuniversity could enable its wearers to turntheir thoughts into motion.University of Maryland associate professor ofkinesiology Jose ‘Pepe’ L. Contreras-Vidal andhis team have created the system that theyclaim could control computers, roboticprosthetic limbs or motorised wheelchairs.He said: “We are doing something that fewpreviously thought was possible. We are ontrack to develop, test and make available tothe public – within the next few years – asafe, reliable, non-invasive brain computerinterface that can bring life-changingtechnology to millions of people whose abilityto move has been diminished due to paralysis,stroke or other injury or illness.“We use EEG [electroencephalography] tonon-invasively read brainwaves and translatethem into movement commands forcomputers and other devices.” The potential of the brain cap technology hasattracted grants from the National ScienceFoundation and National Institutes of Health,and a growing list of partners that includesthe University of Maryland School ofMedicine, the Veterans Affairs Maryland

Health Care System, the Johns HopkinsUniversity Applied Physics Laboratory, RiceUniversity and Walter Reed Army MedicalCenter's Integrated Department ofOrthopaedics and Rehabilitation. The team has successfully used EEG brainsignals to reconstruct the 3D movements ofthe ankle, knee and hip joints during humantreadmill walking.In two earlier studies they showed similarresults for 3D hand movement and thatsubjects wearing the brain cap could control acomputer cursor with their thoughts. Jose added: “This data could help strokevictims in several ways. One is a prostheticdevice, called an ‘anklebot’, or ankle robot,that stores data from a normal human gaitand assists partially paralysed people. “People who are less mobile commonly sufferfrom other health issues such as obesity,diabetes or cardiovascular problems, so wewant to get stroke survivors up and moving bywhatever means possible.‘By decoding the motion of a normal gait, wecan then try and teach stroke victims to thinkin certain ways and match their own EEGsignals with the normal signals. This could‘retrain’ healthy areas of the brain in what isknown as neuroplasticity.”

Wearers ‘couldturn thoughtsinto motion’

Rugby star James Haskell officially opened a new clinic inHertfordshire. The England World Cup squad member cut theribbon at Harpenden Physiotherapy and Osteopathy. The newclinic, which is run by Chris Eke and Nick Sinfield, will offer awide range of treatments including physiotherapy, podiatry,sports massages, orthotics and acupuncture. Full story, Page 20

INNOVATION FOR INDEPENDENCE ISSUE 80 August/September 11 £6.95

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www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk

Conference focuseson ground-breakingdevelopmentsBy Dominic Musgrave

AN INTERNATIONAL conference hasshed new light on pioneering scientificresearch that will give disabled peoplea better quality of life.More than 100 academics and seniorresearchers from 15 nations attendedthe event at the University of Ulster’sMagee campus to showcase theinitiatives they are developing incomputational intelligence, cognitiverobotics, neural engineering and otherground-breaking blue sky scientificdisciplines.The conference trained a fresh focuson international advances that areharnessing robotic science and thecomputer-aided power of brainwavesin ways that will improve healthcareand independence for people who aredisabled.ISRC director professor MartinMcGinnity said that while tremendousadvances have been made byresearchers in both brain computerinterfaces and robotics technologies,there could be even greater potentialif the two areas of research could bebetter integrated.

He added: “The conference examinedsome of the barriers currentlyimpeding the integration of BCI androbotics technologies. “However, despite the potential formaking life easier for people withphysical disabilities, due to practicallimitations there is still very little take-up of BCI systems for real-world use.Similarly in the AR field, highlypromising prototype systems haveshown that these can have enormousbenefits in terms of helping disabledindividuals in mobility, performingactivities of daily living andundertaking rehabilitation exercises forrecovery of paralysed limbs. “These systems include a range ofdevices involving smart wheelchair,tele-robotics, intelligent manipulators,and prosthetic and orthotic devices.But AR systems have yet to findwidespread application.”Brain Vision UK Ltd, a distributioncompany based in London, andmanufacturer Brain Products GmbH, aGerman-headquartered firm that ismaking the next generation of BCIsystems, jointly sponsored theconference.

Charity bidto raise £1mA SPECIALIST cycle and tricycleprovider hopes to raise £1m forcharity with a ride from JohnO’Groats to Lands End next spring.Quest 88’s Ride Side by Sidechallenge will be spread over 12days, and the money raised will besplit between the Help for Heroesand Caudwell Children charities.David Vernon-Henshaw (jointmanaging director), Mark Leary(technical services engineer) andTony Smart (design engineer) willeach ride one of the tandems, andthey will be accompanied byrepresentatives from the threearmed forces that have beeninjured while serving their country. David said it is hoped that variouscelebrities who work with bothcharities will also be joining theteams along the route. He added:“To have the opportunity to ridethe length of the UK with suchbrave people while also raisingmoney for two such great charitieswill be a fantastic experience. Aspart of the event, we will also beholding All Ability Cycling days inGlasgow, Manchester, Shrewsbury,Taunton and Plymouth. At eachevent, anybody with a disabilitywill have the opportunity to use aQuest 88 tricycle and hopefullyrealise that cycling is still apossibility for them.”

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INTERACTIVE computer games havethe potential to help young peoplewith learning difficulties mastereveryday tasks and motivate them tolearn, it has been claimed

PhD researcher Rachael Folds, fromNottingham Trent University’s Schoolof Education, has studied howrepetitive use of interactive mimeticdigital games, such as those on theNintendo Wii and Xbox Kinect, couldhelp to improve certain skills.

The research was carried out withLoughborough College students whoare undertaking specialist trainingprogrammes that assist in thetransition from special schools intofurther education courses.

The participants were aged 16-24and have intellectual disabilitiesranging from Down’s syndrome toAutism Spectrum Disorder.

Rachael said: “The initial results fromthis small sample suggest thatinteractive games teach the studentsmovements which they can improveupon and mimic in everyday life.

“Although they were playing tennisand bowling in the trial, games

which teach them how to do thingslike bake a cake or change a tyrecould potentially be very beneficial.

“The students really enjoyed takingpart in this project and found it arewarding and enriching learningexperience, they were very motivatedto learn using this method.

“The outcomes were certainly veryinteresting and I think this is an areawhich warrants further research sowe can build on how we best teachchildren with special educationalneeds.”

During the study the studentsundertook pre and post test ‘real-world’ activities. The first part of theproject – tennis – involved 24students hitting 10 forehand andbackhand balls and serving 10 balls.

They were then asked to carry outthe same task on a Wii tennis gameat regular intervals over five weeks.

The second stage – bowling – asked18 students to knock down as manypins as possible with five balls andthis was then replicated over fiveweeks on an Xbox Kinect bowlinggame.

After playing the computer games,the students repeated the real-worldexercise and their results werecompared.

During the five week Wii trial 75 percent of the group experienced anincrease in their computer gamescores, and the final test showedthat the students' real-life tennis skilllevel had improved by an average of

53 per cent.

The second stage of the projectshowed more significant findings as94 per cent got higher scores inweek five than they did in the firstweek playing the computer game.The average increase in their bowling real world skills was 143 per cent after interacting withthe game.

Games can motivate to learn

Michael Caines MBE willofficially open a newexhibition at the AshtonGate Stadium in Bristol inSeptember.

The Michelin star chef, wholost his right arm in a caraccident, will be at the ‘OneLife - Live It’ eventorganised by theProsthetics, OrthoticsRehabilitation Technology –Education and Research(PORT-ER) charity for peopleliving with limb impairment.

The September 9 exhibitionwill run from 10am-4pm,and will feature sports,gadgets, health and beautyand medical devices.

Entry is £5 in advance or £7on the day, with under 16sgoing free.

Clients invited to education dayNUFFIELD Health welcomed existingclients from the corporate health andwellbeing world to a physiotherapyeducation day at their Cannon Streetcentre.

The event was an opportunity for keydecision makers to engage with thesenior physiotherapy team, and viewthe platform from which NuffieldHealth’s physiotherapy offering isdelivered in the corporateenvironment.

Cabella Lowe, professional head ofphysiotherapy at the company, said:“We have invested a lot intoidentifying and addressing muscular-skeletal problems that arise in theworkplace, by combining intelligencefrom occupational healthprofessionals with our own evidence-based practice.

“Our robust clinical governance notonly ensures the delivery ofphysiotherapy in line with the newest research, but has proven cost-cutting benefits for theemployer.”

Nuffield’s entire network is clinicallygoverned by a central team of seniorphysiotherapists, meaning that allpatients receive an individually-tailored package giving only theclinically appropriate amount ofsessions.

Attendees were given the opportunityto participate in a live diagnostictriage session and watch some of themost effective methods of treatmentin action, including ultrasound,acupuncture and gym-basedrehabilitation.

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Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Sports InjuryClinic to raise awareness of ankylosingspondylitis.

The Stoke City player, renowned for his longthrows, pledged his support to the Back in Playcampaign, to raise awareness of the symptomsof the chronic inflammatory condition that cancause severe pain and loss of mobility in thelower back.

The FA cup finalist said Back in Play can helpraise awareness of this relatively unknowncondition and its symptoms, despite not being asufferer himself.

He added: “Most football fans will not haveheard about AS, yet the stats show up to one in200 young men will have it.

“It is understandable that some of thesymptoms like lower back pain are often writtenoff as a sports injury or bad posture, howeverthere are some key subtleties, such as the paingetting better with exercise and painful redeyes, that can indicate AS.”

The campaign, supported by the the NationalAnkylosing Spondylitis Society and funded byPfizer Limited, launched in May at The RJAHOswestry and a number of other hospitals

across the UK to mark World AS Day, with aseries of local public awareness raising activities.

The campaign uses football to communicate thecommon AS symptoms to the people most likelyto suffer – men and women aged 18 to 40years old.

“Due to a lack of awareness about AS and thegradual onset of symptoms this debilitatingcondition can often go undiagnosed for anumber of years,” said consultant

rheumatologist Dr Atheer Al-Ansari.

“By increasing awareness of the specificsymptoms we are aiming to reduce the frequentconfusion with common back pain and sports injuries and help patients suffering fromthe condition to get diagnosed and treatedearlier.”

Although there is no cure for AS, there arelifestyle and medical treatments available to helpthose diagnosed.

Premiership player pledges toraise awareness of condition

Rory Delap (centre) with occupational therapist John Ridgeway and physiotherapist Carwyn Davies

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By Dominic Musgrave

A SKIPTON physiotherapist has sethimself the task of rowing a millionmetres in 60 days to raise more than£10,000 for the care of a paralysedgirl.

Skipton physiotherapist MarkWilkinson aims to complete 50 half-marathons on a Concept II rowingmachine to raise money for TheBeing Bel Trust.

The trust funds care and support forBel Young – a nine-year-old whosuffered a broken neck in a fall froma garden climbing frame at a friend’shouse, leaving her tetraplegic.

The nine-year-old spent months inthe paediatric high-dependency unitat Leeds General Infirmary and needsspecialist help and equipment tohelp her live independently. Sherelies on a ventilator to breathe.

Mark said: “I’ve just started doingsome work with Bel, and I was sotaken by her bravery, confidence andoutlook on life that I thought Iwould do something that wouldreally help her needs.

“She requires a lot of specialistequipment so I decided, rather

Physio aiming to row amillion metres to help Bel

stupidly, that as a physio who isrelatively fit I would do something ona machine that I hate because it is sohard. I also hoped it would createthe most attention.

“I trained for six months ahead ofthe challenge, and in that timeprobably did around two millionmetres. I’ve done most of the half-marathons at Craven leisure centre,but have also done severalexhibitions in local supermarkets andat local shows.

“They have been putting me on astand and people come and watchme suffer, which I don’t mind as longas they donate.”

Mark, who has also been nominatedas one of the Olympic torch bearersfor the 2012 Games, is currentlyranked number one on the machinethis year.

He added: “Bel’s equipment is goingto need changing in a few years, butI am doing my bit to help make thistime of her life as comfortable aspossible.

“But I’m not doing this for fun andmy body is slowly getting wrecked. Ihave a bad back and blistered handsand, after 30 minutes of rowing myfingers go numb. I’m also having tosit on a pillow because the seatsaren’t the comfiest.”

Mark Wilkinson

CrutchamnestylaunchedTHE Accident and Emergencydepartment at Torbay Hospitalhas launched a ‘crutch amnesty’for the summer holidays.More than 5,000 pairs of crut-ches are given out to patientsevery year, and an estimated1,500 don't make it back to thehospital.With the average pair ofcrutches costing around £10 thismeans that the A&E departmentloses up to £15,000 in missingcrutches every year.Matron Andy Mortimore said:“We completely understand thatwhen people are back at homeand getting well they may simplyforget to return the crutches.However, this does present uswith a big problem, both practi-cally and financially, so we areholding this amnesty to encour-age people to bring them in.“At this time of year people areoften preparing for their holidaysand we asking that when theyare getting their bags and suit-cases out that they check to seeif they are storing anything theymay have borrowed from us.”

OSCAR Pistorius has qualifiedfor the World Championshipsand the London 2012 Olympicsafter clocking 45.07 seconds forthe 400 metres at a meeting inItaly.

The South African doubleamputee, who runs with carbonfibre prosthetic running bladesafter being born without afibula in both legs, achieved the45.25secs ‘A’ standardqualifying time by winning arace in Lignano.

The four-time Paralympic goldmedallist dubbed “the fastestman on no legs”, finished wellclear of the field as he smashedhis personal best of 45.61.

He will become the firstamputee sprinter to compete atthe World Championships,which get under way in Daegu,South Korea, on August 27,and the Olympics.

Double qualificationfor medallist Oscar

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£3m centre toprobe arthritisand sport linkBy Dominic Musgrave

A PIONEERING £3m nationalresearch centre has been launched toinvestigate the development ofarthritis from sports and exerciseinjuries.

Almost 3,000 members of the publichave visited Arthritis Research UK’s‘Taking the pain out of sport’website to share their concernsabout pain or injury connected tosport or exercise activity, and 40 percent were worried about limitedmobility and joint problems in future.

Medical director, professor AlanSilman, said: “There’s a growingbody of evidence to suggest thatsports injuries can have long termimplications, causing conditions suchas osteoarthritis, with littleknowledge about how to preventand manage this future risk.

“The health benefits of being activecannot be underestimated, but as wework hard to encourage people toadopt a more active lifestyle, weneed to ensure they’re doingeverything they can to prevent futureproblems.

“The new centre will, for the firsttime, co-ordinate the work ofleading experts to undertake andshare research into the risks

associated with specific sports andspecific body types, and how best toreduce these risks and to participatein sport healthily.”

The National Centre for Arthritisfrom Sports and Exercise will alsolook at how best to manage injurieswhen they do occur, reviewingrecovery techniques and surgical andpharmacological interventions.

The charity is looking to collaboratewith various partners, whileuniversities and clinical centres willbe invited to tender, collaborating intheir bids. An international panel ofmedical experts will judge thesubmissions, based on their levels ofexpertise, enthusiasm andinfrastructure to deliver the plan.

The experts involved in the centrewill be gathered from a number ofrelated disciplines, drawing on theexpertise of sports and exercisemedicine specialists, physiotherapists,rheumatologists, the researchcommunity and the NHS.

Olympians spanning the generationsare also supporting the campaign.Diver Edna Child and hockey playerJohn Peake who competed in the1948 Olympics, as well as ZacPurchase MBE, gold medallist rowerin the 2008 games and Britishhopeful for London 2012.

A prosthetic limb user has completed a 630-mile run from Somerset to Dorsetin a bid to raise £10,000 for charity.Colin Edwards ran 10 miles a day on the South West coastal path for PORT-ER, acharity that he is trustee of, which supports people with limb deficiencies.He had a serious motorcycle accident when he was 19, although his leg wasnot amputated until he was in his 40s, which is when he took up running.He ended the challenge by completing the Torbay Half Marathon in a personalbest time.

New features introduced forrevamped summer schoolDR Kevin A. Kirby, Craig Payne, DrSimon K. Spooner and Trevor Priorwere the speakers at the revampedLanger RX Biomechanics SummerSchool.The event had a more hands onformat, with morning lectures andafternoons jam-packed with intimateworkshops that allowed thedelegates to work closer with thespeakers and be more involved intheir own learning experience.The following subject matter wascovered:� Biomechanics and treatment ofjuvenile flatfoot and adult acquiredflat foot deformity.� Patello/ Femoral syndrome; thefoot or hip.� The practical application ofbiomechanical theory for patientassessment.� How Orthoses work.� Biomechanics of Hallux Limitus –Rigidus.� Pathology specific prescribing.10 biomechanical functions of theplantar fascia.

� Kinetic Quantified Casting.One of the new features which wasincorporated was ‘ask the stars’ – alight hearted and informalopportunity for the delegates to quizthe speakers on topics not related tothe lectures. Next year’s event will be held on June22 and 23 with a sports theme.Speakers already confirmed includeSimon Barthold, Kevin Kirby, PaulHarradine, Nat Padhiar and TrevorPrior.

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RESEARCHERS from the Universityof Aberdeen’s School ofEngineering in partnership withMartyn Snow, a leading specialistin joints and cartilage at the RoyalOrthopaedic Hospital, havedeveloped a new fixationmechanism which could improvethe success rate in cruciate kneeligament surgery.

The team was funded by the NHSto study the rupture of the anteriorcruciate ligament (ACL). The ACL isthe main ligament in the middle ofthe knee which stabilises the kneejoint, and the team has developeda device to replace the screwstraditionally used in this type ofsurgery.

ACL injuries are particularlycommon in sports people. MichaelOwen famously ruptured his duringthe first few minutes of England’sWorld Cup match against Swedenin 2006, and Tiger Woods also hadproblems during the 2008 USOpen.

The new device, known as aGraftBolt® has been developedfrom the initial concept and

brought to market in just fiveyears. As a result the team wasawarded the 2011 PraxisUnico’sCollaborative Impact Award.

Dr Bin Wang, who led the team atAberdeen, said: “ACL injury affectsaround one in 3,500 people. It iscommonly repaired using thepatient’s own hamstring tendons toform a quadruple graft that issecured in the tibia – the shin bone– and femur – the upper leg bone.

“The NHS performs around 11,000ACL reconstructions per year, butthe procedure is not universallysuccessful, with failure rates of fiveto 25 per cent often resulting infurther surgery and long termproblems. The main cause of thisis loss of graft fixation within thetibia in the early post-operativeperiod.

“GraftBolt® aims to improve thepatient’s quality of life bysuccessfully repairing their injuryfirst time and improving the qualityof bonding of the graft to thebone, which speeds up the healingof the graft implant and henceimproves the patient’s

rehabilitation.

“The product has a higher ‘pulloutstrength’ than the main competingproduct and therefore improveshealthcare provision by increasingthe reliability of the ACLreconstruction leading to fewerhospital readmissions for ACLreconstruction failure, which couldlead to a cost saving to the NHSand other healthcare providers.”

The GraftBolt® is used in place ofa traditional screw for securingdamaged ligaments to the boneand has a superior performance,increasing the reliability of ACL

reconstruction and reducing theneed for follow-up procedures.

Bin added: “An ACL revisionoperation in the NHS costs £3,000-£3,500, and sometimes twooperations are required. Thus, useof GraftBolt® could save up to£6,000 per ACL reconstructionprevented.”

The intellectual property rights forthe GraftBolt® are owned by theNHS and it is licensed to USorthopaedic device companyArthrex Inc, which has developedthe device into a commerciallyviable product.

Damage to the cruciate knee ligaments has cut short the careers of many sports stars, buttreatment for the injury could be revolutionised by a new device which has just secured a topinnovation award. Dominic Musgrave reports.

Mechanism aims to improveknee surgery success rate

Michael Owen

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Backing for call tohelp older peoplelive well at homeTHE College of Occupational Therapists haslent its to support to a report which calls onGovernment to take urgent action to enableolder people to live well at home. The All Party Parliamentary Group onHousing and Care for Older People researchfollows an inquiry into the barriers faced byolder people who want to stay in their ownhome, but are struggling to do so. Among the obstacles found were:� Delays and duplication in assessments ofwhat an individual needs.� Insufficient funds for preventative homecare, and inflexibility in administeringpersonalised support.� Shortages of Disabled Facilities Grants forhome adaptations (and of occupationaltherapists to advise on them).� Under-resourced – and relatively few –home improvement agencies and handy-person schemes to get things done for olderhome owners.Among the 17 recommendations it makes togovernment it recommends that the CoTshould work with local statutory, voluntaryand commercial housing, health and socialcare to produce joint good practice

guidelines and procedures.Chief executive Julia Scott said: “We arefully behind APPG’s call for urgent action toenable older people to live well at home andtheir recognition of occupational therapists’role in this.“We are key to unlocking dependency onhospital services, residential or nursing care.We are experts at adapting the home,removing obstacles to independent livingand working with older people to live lifetheir way. “These are exactly the areas in which OTshave unique skills and expertise. It is vital theGovernment work with us at this crucialtime in health and social care reform.Together we can provide a sustainable andcost effective solution to caring for olderpeople so that they can stay where theymost want to be, in their own home.”She called on the Government to investmore in occupational therapy to makesignificant long term savings by reducing therisk of falls and accidents, avoidingpremature admissions to nursing orresidential care and unnecessary, and costly,hospital admissions.

A DOG brought smiles tosome of the sickest patientson the stroke ward at GoodHope Hospital in SuttonColdfield.Mollie the husky and herowner Terry Farren have beenvisiting the stroke rehabilitat-ion unit at the hospital forthe last six weeks, and werean instant hit with patientsand staff alike. With the Pets as Therapyscheme, pets are allowedonto the ward for patients tostroke and spend somequality time with.Occupational therapist fromthe stroke unit, Nicci O’Neill,said: “From a clinical point ofview, this scheme is excellent

for patients. Not only is timewith a therapy dogtherapeutic, aiding recoveryand rehabilitation, it alsogives a taste of home. “The animals also encourageinteraction in patients whowouldn’t usually get involvedin social activity, thusboosting their confidence.The scheme has the addedbonus of encouraging theuse of effected muscles andlimbs in stroke patients asthese are used instinctively topet Mollie. This is especiallyimportant in a ward wherepatients tend to spend acouple of weeks here. Theireyes really light up when theyhear Mollie is coming back.”

Pets as Therapy dog Mollie with stroke patient Mary Horler, owner TerryFarren and occupational therapist Nicci O’Neil.

Mollie raises a smile ...

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THE world’s first motorised prosthesis waslaunched at a ceremony at London’s ScienceMuseum by Össur.

Power Knee uses cutting edge bionictechnology to respond instantly to the precisemovements the amputee makes and reacts tomotions of sitting, standing, climbing stairsand walking, and also prevents stumbles.

A motor integrated in the knee providespower, replacing the function of muscles lostthrough trans-femoral amputation. This meansthat for the first time the amputee does nothave to generate the entirety of the effortrequired to walk or negotiate steps.

User David Jonsson, who gave a livedemonstration at the launch, said: “Amotorised knee is different from a passiveknee, which just follows the motion of thebody.

“The motor gives you more control over theknee, it allows you to mimic the natural gaitmore easily and allows the user to use theirbody more like the way is intended to work,because they do not have to compensate forusing a prosthesis and muscle loss.”

The event also featured a technical briefing byRichard Hirons, clinical specialist at Össur UKand comment from leading prosthetist TobyCarlsson, of Pace Rehabilitation.David Jonsson

The world’s firstmotorisedprosthesis launched

Funding securedfor research intoosteoporosis A UNIVERSITY of Manchesterscientist has won funding froma leading medical researchcharity to develop a more effec-tive way of routinely detectingosteoporosis in the spine.Tim Cootes, professor ofcomputer vision in the Schoolof Cancer and EnablingSciences, has been awarded£136,600 over two years fromArthritis Research UK.Working with professor JudithAdams at Manchester RoyalInfirmary, he and his team aimto produce a new computerprogramme to detect fracturedvertebrae in radiographs, whichare commonly used to diagnoseosteoporosis. Currently, up to50 per cent of fracturedvertebrae are missed, asidentifying them requiresconsiderable expertise.Tim added: “The tool willautomatically measure theshape of each vertebra andindicate if they are damaged orunusual, so helping clinicians todetect vertebral fractures more

reliably and quickly. This willhelp to diagnose osteoporosisat an earlier stage, leading toearlier treatment and reducingthe risk of future fractures.”Osteoporosis is a conditionaffecting the bones, causingthem to weaken and fracture.Around three million people inthe UK have the disease leadingto more than 230,000 fracturesas a result. However, lifestylechanges and drug treatmentscan significantly reduce the riskof fractures so early diagnosis isimportant.An early sign of the disease isfracture of the vertebrae, butbecause they often cause nodiscomfort they can gounnoticed by the patient.Tim added: “We’ve developed acomputer system that candistinguish between normal andfractured vertebrae, and in thisproject we aim to improve thesystem further and to train it towork on the different types ofx-ray images that are commonlyused.”

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Delegates tryhand at colourmatchingDORSET Orthopaedic opened itsdoors for the first of what willhopefully be many silicone partnerconferences.

Delegates attended from around theworld and were treated to a tour ofthe firm’s Ringwood clinic and threesilicone workshops, which gave thedelegates a chance to try their handat colour matching.

One delegate said the two daysallowed him to truly comprehendhow complex the process is afterplacing an order.

Professor Mark Waters fromTechnovent answered questionssurrounding the uses andmanufacture of silicone and give apresentation on the company and itsassociation with Dorset Orthopaedic.

This allowed the delegates to gain abetter understanding of why theychose to use the material in themajority of its manufacturing.

T AND S Orthotics held its first Stance Control seminar at the Hilton Hotel in Croydon,Surrey.

The event attracted a group of 25enthusiastic orthotists from aroundthe UK, and began with anIntroduction to Stance Controlpresentation by Dr Jim Campbell,vice president of BeckerOrthopedics.

This was followed by PatientAssessment and KAFO PrescriptionPrinciples by Karyn Ros, seniorlecturer at Strathclyde University,and Dr. Andreas Kannenberg,director of medical affairs for Otto Bock Germany, speakingabout the evidence behind stancecontrol

The day was rounded off with apresentation by both DavidBuchanan from the Otto BockHealthcare Academy and Dr. JimCampbell on component selectionfor Stance Control.

What is Stance Control?

Many individuals withneuromuscular and/ ormusculoskeletal disorders exhibitknee instability because of paresisor paralysis of lower limb muscles(Polio and Post Polio Syndrome).

These individuals cannot walksafely or efficiently and, until 20years ago, patients withneuromuscular or musculoskeletaldisorders or instability of the kneewere provided with a cosmetic orconventional type knee ankle footorthoses (KAFO). This type oforthosis aids stability for thepatient when walking.

Most of the KAFOs suppliedwould have had some form oflocking knee joint (ring catch, baror bail lock) which would providethe much needed stance stabilityfor the patient. But the downsideto this was that the individualwould not be allowed any kneemovement during swing phase,

meaning they would walk with astiff leg.

For these patients to walk, theindividual would compensate byeither circumducting or hiking uptheir leg, which could cause longterm pain joint dysfunction,especially in the hips and lowerback.

Research has shown that a patientwith a traditional KAFO withlocked knee joints is less energyefficient against the StanceControl devices available today.

Advancement in orthotictechnology has led to thedevelopment of Stance Controlknee joints. These orthoses aredesigned to allow free flexion ofthe knee during swing phase,while providing full stability instance phase by automaticallylocking on initiation of the stancephase of gait.

To read more visitwww.assistivetechnologies.co.uk

Orthotists attend Stance Control seminar

Ramp givesphysio boostfor youngPERSUADING toddlers and childrenbetween the ages of two and 10 toactively engage in physiotherapy tostretch their Achilles tendons and calfmuscles is not easy.

Use of this safe and child friendly C-Pro Direct’s Dorsi Ramp can bereadily incorporated into routineactivities, such as daily teethcleaning, playing computer games orworking at a desk to makephysiotherapy far less of a chore. Itcan help children suffering fromidiopathic toe walking conditions,clubfoot and cerebral palsy toimprove dorsiflexion and mobility.

� Strong, stable, safe child friendlyramp with no moving parts.

� Reversible design and insertprovides 10, 15 and 20 degreeslopes.

� Moulding encourages correct footplacement.

� Compound slope angle ensurescorrect dorsiflexion.

‘Spin out’ company holds regular clinicsLACERTA Rehabilitation is a ‘spinout’ company of the University ofSalford and has developed a closeworking relationship with the PolioFellowship, along with otherspecialist groups.

We hold regular clinics in our stateof the art facilities at the UniversityDepartment of Prosthetics andOrthotics. Specialising in spinal andlower limb orthotics, we receive alarge number of referrals for Polioand Post Polio Syndrome patients.

All new patients who are referred toour clinic are invited to attend anassessment, where we have a

multidisciplinary team.

Patients undergo a full orthoticassessment before being advised asto the best way forward. We arehappy to produce a full writtenreport for the referrer outlining ourprescription thoughts, realisticexpectations and full costings before any decision to go ahead with the manufacture of orthotic equipment.

Polio sufferers, together with othergroups requiring complex orthotics,are very much affected by the weightof their brace. We thereforespecialise in a wide variety of designs

utilising a range of modern materialsand manufacturing techniques inorder to produce strong effectivebracing while minimising the weightinvolved.

On occasions it is necessary for us todesign a specific orthosis for aparticular problem where previousattempts at providing one has notbeen successful.

We are increasingly requested bycase managers to also provide anassessment and report service, andto go on to manage their client’sorthotic treatment.

BY simply providing BeagleOrthopaedic with twomeasurements (waistcircumference and length ofsternal notch to navel) we willtake care of the rest, providingyou with a brace that isguaranteed to fit first time.

The Contour™ Brace will comepre-assembled, allowing you toapply it straight on to a patient,making minimal yet criticaladjustments for it to become aperfect fit for each individual.

The Contour™ LSO by Aspen isthe latest technology forrestricting motion in the lumbarspine. Utilising the Quikdraw™with Rigid Anterior Panel (RAP) as the platform, the brace is effective andcomfortable to increase patientcompliance and shortenrecovery time.

The Contour™ LSO is modular

with adjustable side and verticalpanels, allowing you thepractitioner to fit a wide varietyof patients. Contour™ LSO is a multiple orthotic systemdesigned with rehab in mind, and can eventually bestepped down to the proven QuikDraw™ lumbarsupport.

The Contour™ LSO steps up toform the Aspen Contour™TLSO which provides superiormotion restriction for thethoracic and lumbar regions ofthe spine (up to T9).

The compression of theQuikDraw™, rigidity of theContour™ Back Panel andstability of the TLSO upgradecombine to provide the mostcomfortable, simple yeteffective, brace available on themarket today.

Guaranteed to fit first time

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A 10-year-old’s dreams of becoming a professional golfer has moved a step closer after he was fittedwith a special bionic glove. Dominic Musgrave reports.

LEO Millar has learned the gameusing just one hand after a birthdefect left him without fingers on hisright hand.But, following a visit to founder BobWatts at Hampshire-based DorsetOrthopaedic, he can now drive a ballas far as most amateur golfers.Bob told Assistive Technologies theyoungster first visited him to havesomething fitted that would enablehim to go from being a brown beltat karate to a black belt.He added: “Leo’s family originallyapproached us because the NHS limbcentre told them they weren’tprepared to make him a device tohelp him reach his goals in karate.“We did that and then his dad, whois a keen golfer, came back to us andasked if we could do anything tohelp Leo because although he canpitch and putt well using the onehand he cannot give it a good swingwhen he needs to.“To get the distance he really neededtwo hands so they presented thegolf clubs to me and I looked at hisresidual limb and started to thinkabout the position he needed to getinto, to firstly address the ball andthen complete the swing.”

Bob created a flexible glove thatattaches to Leo’s right wrist and hasa handle on the end of it that gripsany golf club, allowing him to swingwith two hands for the first time.The device has been given the all-clear by the the game's governingbody the Royal and Ancient.Bob added: “After a bit of tweaking,the prosthetic we decided on ismade out of silicone and a cuff goesaround his wrist and up his forearm,and he tightens it up with a velcrostrap. There is a handle holder onthe end of it that fits all golf clubgrips. The silicone allows theprosthetic to rotate through 90degrees as Leo swings the club andallows him to rotate his hand.“Leo is a great lad who is reallymature for his age. He comes acrossas someone who is very focussedand knows that if he wants to be thebest at something he is going tohave to practice hard.” Leading club manufacturer Callawayhas offered to provide Leo with a setof custom made clubs, while TVpresenter and fan of the sport ChrisEvans is also believed to beinterested in playing a round withhim for a feature for The One Show.

LEO joins a list of well-known peopleto have their limbs fitted by BobWatts.Over the years he has been involvedwith the likes of Heather Mills, mostrecently for her appearances onDancing on Ice, and American actress,Paralympian and model AimeeMullins.Aimee, who was born with missingfibula bones and, as a result, hadboth of her legs amputated belowthe knee when she was a year old,has recently been named as anambassador for L’Oreal, joining thelikes of Cheryl Cole.Bob said: “We have fitted Aimee’slimbs for several years and she calledin a few weeks ago because shewanted a pair that she could wearwith flat shoes.“Her high heeled ones apply morepressure on the limbs. In the past wehave had to create ones for her forAlexander McQueen’s fashion shows.”Bob is also currently working withworld champion sailor StephenThomas.

Leo gets in the swing

Leo Millar

Youngsterin esteemedcompany

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Nich to take help toAfghan youngstersA PARAMEDIC will be taking hismedical skills to a war torn countrythis autumn.

Nich Woolf, a Welsh AmbulanceService paramedic, based atChepstow ambulance station Ispreparing to travel in October toNorth Afghanistan to help children who have limb disabilities or developmental dysplasia of thehip.

He is taking on the trip inpartnership with the former ITNreporter Sandy Gall’s AfghanistanAppeal, which since 1986 hasprovided physiotherapy, artificial limbs, walking aids, and for more than 70,000 patientsaffected by illness, war, and disease.

Nich said: “I am travelling toAfghanistan to raise awareness ofthese conditions, as children in sucha poor country with a disability aremore vulnerable than youngsters in adeveloped country.

“This is a really important trip as Iwant to help treat these patientswith by using my clinical skills and bytraining professionals in the countryin recognition and treatment.

“The trip comes on the back of aprevious visit by British medical staffwho found an urgent need forinstruments and basic anaestheticsupplies

“This is what I am working hard togather before I go out in October. Iwant to bring with me good,serviceable equipment and suppliesto the hospitals in NorthernAfghanistan.”

Nich is a well-known face on themusic festival circuit, especiallyGlastonbury, after setting up FestivalMedical Services which raises moneyfor medical causes.

Golden start for Danielle’sParalympic campaignBy Dominic Musgrave

AMPUTEE DanielleBradshaw’s bid to representGreat Britain at theParalympics has got off to apromising start.

The 11-year-old struck gold inher first 100m race againstable-bodied athletes at theSportcity stadium, inManchester.

Danielle, who chose to haveher leg amputated at TheChildren’s Hospital inSheffield last year to give hera chance of competing forTeam GB at the 2016Paralympic Games, recordeda time of 23.6 seconds at thesports day event.

She said: “It was a greatfeeling to complete my firstrace and even better to win. Icouldn’t believe it when I

crossed the finish line andrealised I had won gold. Itwas brilliant to be up on thepodium at such a big stadiumand I hope it is the start of many more medals tocome.”

Danielle, from Newton Hyde,Greater Manchester, wasborn with DevelopmentalDysplasia of both hips and acongenital abnormality of herright knee, which left herreliant on a brace, crutches ora wheelchair.

She had never before beenable to play sport and,although doctors said theycould try other treatments,chose to undergo majorsurgery at The Children’sHospital to have her crippledright leg amputated to allowher to compete with arunning blade.

PHYSIOTHERAPY students fromCardiff University’s School ofHealthcare Studies have supporteda major new multi-sport event foryoung people.Gemau Cymru brought togetherathletes from nine differentcompetitive elements to celebrateand showcase the future of Wales’sporting talent inspired by the2012 Olympic and ParalympicGames.In total nine sports events held atseven different venues acrossCardiff made up the gamesincluding: athletics, boccia,canoeing, gymnastics, swimming,girls’ football and multi disabilityfootball teams, netball, rugbysevens and triathlon.The Cardiff physiotherapy teamincluded 70 student volunteersand some of the most experiencedstaff from the School ofHealthcare Studies who have, inthe past, worked with athletes inthe Olympics and CommonwealthGames.

Support formajor event

Danielle Bradshaw

sponsors kids

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TRY AN ENGLAND rugby star has officially

opened a new clinic in Hertfordshire.James Haskell, who currently plies histrade for Stade Francais and scoredtwo tries for England in the openingSix Nations game against Wales lastyear, cut the ribbon at HarpendenPhysiotherapy and Osteopathy.The new clinic, which is run by ChrisEke and Nick Sinfield, will offer a widerange of treatments includingphysiotherapy, podiatry, sportsmassages, orthotics and acupuncture.Chris, a former professional rugbyplayer himself with Wasps, toldAssistive Technologies that he hasknown James several years.He added: “I’ve always been involvedwith rugby and have treated manyplayers over the years, includingJames, and I’m sure we will continueto see him when he returns from hisworld travels.“In these difficult financial times it’snot easy opening a business on theHigh Street so it’s great to have hadsuch strong support from the localcommunity and people like James. “Our aim is to provide individualswith an extremely high level ofdiagnosis, treatment and patient care,

and our rehabilitation centre isfurnished with the latest advances inexercise and electrotherapy equip-ment to assist us in providing the bestpossible care.”The HPO Clinic is offering the opport-unity for local back pain sufferers totake part in a clinical trial, free ofcharge. The purpose is to demon-strate how to successfully treat backpain for lasting long-term relief, and itinvolves a four-week programme ofself management, activities for dailyliving advice and exercise.

The trials will be conducted by Nick, aleading expert in the management ofback and neck pain who has recentlypublished a book called ‘Now I CanBend My Back’.He said: “The NHS is pushing moretowards self management and thetrial aims to show how using thebook and personal health can worktogether. Using questionnaires andstats we want to gauge how peopleare going. If successful we hope toroll it out to the NHS and PCTs.”The trial is due to start in September.

James Haskell cuts the ribbon watched by Harpenden physiotherapy and osteopathy staff

‘Arthritis crisis’ looming?WOMEN who wear high heels orbadly-fitting trainers could beputting themselves at risk ofarthritis, it has been claimed.The Society of Chiropodists andPodiatrists said the UK could befacing an ‘arthritis crisis’ due toincreasing levels of obesity andpoor footwear.The most common form of thecondition, osteoarthritis, causespain and stiffness in the joints andaffects at least eight million peoplein the UK. The condition is morecommon in women.A poll of 2,000 people for theSociety of Chiropodists andPodiatrists found that a quarter ofwomen wear high heels every dayor “frequently”.But experts warned high heels canalter the body's posture andincrease pressure on the foot,ankle and knee joints, increasingthe risk of osteoarthritis.Professor Anthony Redmond, apodiatrist and arthritis researcherfrom The Society of Chiropodistsand Podiatrists said: “Althoughyou are more likely to developarthritis as you get older, it canoccur at any age and the goodnews is that there are simplethings you can do to help preventand treat arthritis.“Choosing the right footwear willhelp minimise the stress placed onthe feet and joints during everyday

activity and helps reduce the riskof injury and joint damage. “For daily wear, the recommend-ation is to opt for a round toedshoe with a heel height of nomore than 2-3cm and with a shockabsorbent sole to help minimiseshock to the joints.”The poll also found that 77 percent of both men and women donot wear shoes designed speci-fically for the sport they are doing.Anthony added: “When doingexercise, wearing trainers that arefitted and designed specifically forthat form of exercise will bothimprove performance and protectfrom injury. Those who weartrainers that are not designed forsporting activity are placingthemselves at real risk. With forcesthrough the joints exceeding eighttimes the body weight duringsome sports, the importance ofmatching the right footwear to theactivity cannot be overstated.“If you do experience frequentpain in your feet or ankles, don’tignore it as something can alwaysbe done. Some forms of arthritisstart first in the feet and earlytreatment is vital to achieving thebest long term outcome.”The survey also found that while65 per cent have suffered stiffnessor pain in their lower body andfeet, only half have sought helpfor their symptoms.

Rugby star cuts ribbon at clinicAward for footcare projectA PROJECT which helps to keeppatients mobile by ensuring theyhave routine foot care hasreceived a top award.The scheme run by Cardiff andVale University Health Boardwon the award for developing aflexible and sustainable workforce at the annual NHS Walesawards ceremony. It trains staff,as well as Age Concern andresidential and nursing homeworkers to provide patients withbasic foot care and referpatients to the podiatry team.Theresa King, of the strategicand clinical lead podiatry team,said: “Good foot care mattersespecially to older people. Aspeople are living longer weneed to be pro-active in identi-fying health risks, and providingefficient and empathetic care.This project without doubtdemonstrated that we listenedand understood a basic need tohelp make a difference.”Around 168 people haveattended the training prog-ramme so far.

sponsors podiatry

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A NORTH East based longdistance runner has returnedto full fitness thanks to theefforts of her local university.Sharon Gayter turned toTeesside University for helpfollowing an operation toremove a large cyst frominside her ankle bone lastSeptember.The operation involved stemcell treatment and left herwith a drastically weakenedbone, which meant she couldonly cope with light stress.Desperate to reclaim hercrown as Britain's number onelong distance runner, sheturned to the Teesside SportsInjury Centre, based at theUniversity, for help.Sports injury staff from theUniversity's sports therapydegree put together a recoveryprogramme for Sharon, whostudied on Teesside’s sport and

exercise master’s degree anddoes some part-time lecturingat the University in betweenher busy running schedule.This included using the newhydrotherapy swimming pool.Sharon said: “I needed to getback to running, but my anklebone couldn’t support myweight – the underwatertreadmill was a godsend. Withthe water absorbing 70-80 percent of my body weight, I ranagainst an underwater jetstream three times a week fora month. “Underwater cameras helpedmonitor the impact on mylegs. For one-to-one rehab,this is absolutely magnificent.”Sharon made her comeback inthe Athens InternationalUltramarathon, and then wenton to become the fastest everBritish finisher when shecompeted in a 120km race in

the Netherlands. She is nowpreparing for some of theworld’s toughest enduranceraces over the summer,including The High – theworld’s highest ‘ultra’ goingup to 18,000ft in theHimalayas. Only one personhas ever finished the 135 milesto date. Sharon also hopes to reclaimher British crown at theCommonwealth Mountain andUltra Championships in NorthWales in September –providing she suffers nofurther injuries. Teesside Sports Injury Centrewas set up as a social venturefive years ago by seniorlecturer Steve Smelt,programme leader in sportstherapy. He previously worked for bothMiddlesbrough andSunderland football clubs.

Sharon Gayter is pictured with Steve Smelt in TeessideUniversity's new hydrotherapy pool.

New hydrotherapy pool getsrunner Sharon back on track

Mat hoping for 2012 support roleA WARWICKSHIRE physiotherapisthas set his sights on gold nextsummer as he heads to the 2012Paralympics as part of the supportstaff for the Great Britain blindfootball team. Senior physiotherapist at GeorgeEliot Hospital in Nuneaton, MatJones, became involved with theteam after being approached bythe FA a couple of years backwhile managing a local club side. Ever since then he has beenproviding physio for the GB blindand cerebral palsy teams. Matperforms the same kinds of dutiesa physio would at any footballmatch, as well as running clinicsand providing emergency pitch

side management.He told Assistive Technologies thejob has taken him all over theworld, with trips to Holland andMadrid coming up as part of thecerebral palsy World Cup andblind European Championshipsrespectively.“I never really dreamed that Iwould ever walk out at anOlympic or Paralympics openingceremony so it will be a veryproud moment for me and I’msure for my family as well,” Matadded. “We are currently rankedfourth in the world so we aredefinitely in with a shout ofbringing home a medal; we’reaiming for gold.

“The FA invest a lot in ourprofessional development.Theexperience has helped me tomodify my skills to cope withdifferent situations. “Working so closely with theblind and visually impaired hasalso helped to greatly improve mycommunication skills. Over thelast couple of years I have beenconstantly presented with newsituations. It’s been a bigchallenge but very fulfilling.”Along with the rest of the teamand staff, Mat will feature in a fly-on-the-wall Channel 4documentary focussing on thebuild up to the Paralympics whichwill be aired in the near future.

CYCLONE Technologies launched the first devicethat enables Functional Electrical Stimulationtherapy in an upright position at the MobilityRoadshow .

Heralded as a revolution in FES for disabilityrecovery and fitness, the RT600 is a majoradvance in encouraging the body to learn a fullrange of routine movements. Until now it hasbeen available only seated at a cycling orrowing system.

“We were delighted to be the first in the worldto launch and extremely positive about itspotential,” said Dave Hawkins, managingdirector of Cyclone Technologies Limited.“Initially we expect to install the system inclinical rehabilitation centres, but long term wehope that it could be feasible for personal use.”

First device of itskind launched

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By Dominic Musgrave

A REHABILITATION centre dedicated tohelping professional footballersovercome injuries and return tocompetition has invested in the world’sfirst elliptical bicycle, the ElliptiGO, toenhance its programme.Lilleshall National Sports Centre, inShropshire, is funded by the ProfessionalFootballers’ Association, and its mainpurpose is to help players overcome thetype of lower limb injuries that arecommon to the game.Philip Newton, director andphysiotherapist at Lilleshall, said:“Football is a high energy, fast-pacedgame that’s centred on speed andendurance. Combine that with slidingtackles, flicks and tricks and players arebound to pick up the odd niggle hereand there.“We have always used exercise bikesand mountain bikes as part of our rehabprogramme, to improve lower limbendurance and overall fitness. “However, because the ElliptiGOrequires you to balance and use yourupper body to maintain posture, as well

as use a leg motion that is more akin torunning, it means that the exercise ismore functional and is well tolerated inconditions where pain with lower limbloading is an issue.Training with ElliptiGO recruits the samemuscles as running, but with a lesserimpact biomechanically, as the motiondoes not create pressure or abrasion onthe joints. Phil added: “Players on the rehabprogramme have really bought into theElliptiGO and enjoy using it as part oftheir wider training programme. “It’s a lot more dynamic than a regularbicycle, but then replicates a runningworkout while eliminating the pressureon knees and joints.”The ElliptiGO’s pedalling motion isspecifically engineered to be closer torunning than an elliptical trainer orstepper. The system includes a longstride length and steep recovery strokethat makes “running” on it feel likerunning outdoors. ElliptiGO riders can cruise along atspeeds in excess of 25 miles an hour, aswell as climb and descend steep hillsutilising the range of gears provided.

Football rehabilitation centreinvests in world first ...

DJO Global’s product range canhelp with ACLR rehabilitationTHE rehabilitation of Anterior Cruciate LigamentReconstrction (ACLR) is dependent on the typeof graft used and the concomitant trauma sus-tained at the time of injury.

As with most rehabilitation no two ACLRpatients will be the same, each presenting withtheir own challenges. That said there are somefundamental goals that need to be achieved toobtain the best short and long term results.

These can be achieved more effectively if thepatient’s rehabilitation commences before theirreconstruction, generally referred to as ‘prehab’.The aims of prehab are to ensure FROM, min-imise swelling, maximise strength and gait con-trol (Shelbourne and Klotz, 2006). Post operatively, the goals are similar: Torestore knee stability, ROM, strength and func-tion through the kinetic chain.

DJO Global has a range of products to helpfacilitate this process. Both pre and post opera-tively it is important to try to attain FROM.Swelling is a limiting factor, as well as inhibitingsurrounding muscles, especially VastusMedialis, therefore early emphasis should beplaced on minimising the effects. Aircast’s

Cryocuff is a portable unit that a patient can useeasily at home, after they have been educatedon the importance of cooling, compression andelevation. While controlling swelling, patientsshould also be encouraged to maintain/restoreFROM with non weight bearing exercises, suchas heel slides for flexion and stretches forextension. For immediately post operative recovery, reha-bilitation should commence with priority. Onceagain, Aircast’s Cryocuff can be used to min-imise swelling and restore FROM.

Following on from this, the Shelbourne Clinic(USA) recommend a period of one week’s totalbed rest with the patient only allowed to get upfor comfort breaks.

To ensure ROM is worked on during this period,a Continued Passive Motion (CPM) machine isadvised which can be used in conjunction withthe Cryocuff unit.

DJO Global has a range of CPM machines(Artromot K1, K2 and K4) that will fulfil this pur-pose. Of course, while it has been shown thatthis protocol is very effective in minimising effu-sion and restoring ROM, it can result in neural

inhibition and muscle atrophy, especially to theQuadriceps. It is therefore recommended that the early intro-duction of Cefar Compex, a neuro muscularelectro stimulation (NMES) machine is advocat-ed. Compex programmes, such asCapillarisation, can be commenced from aroundday two post op and, while this programme willnot produce muscle contractions, it doesencourage cellular activity of both nerve andmuscle cells. Progression can be made to aDisuse Atrophy programme, as the patient cantolerate, which stimulates contractions of theType I (slow twitch) fibres. DJO Global are currently running free CompexCPD workshops, presented by chartered phys-iotherapist Cliff Eaton, demonstrating how tomaximise the use of a NMES device for bothrecovery and performance. Compex is the per-fect companion for every physiotherapy clinic.

For further details, or to book a workshop,contact Emma Cartwright on 01483 470237 oremail [email protected]

ADVERTISER’S ACCOUNCEMENT

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SYSTEM SUITABLE FOR ANYONEFACING A TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT

BEAGLE ADDS NEW BRACE TO ITSPORTFOLIO

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BIONICARE is a revolutionary non-invasivetreatment for uni, bi and tri-compartmen-tal knee osteoarthritis. Suited for anyonefacing a total knee replacement, young ornon-operative patients. Bionicare providesa clinically proven and cost effective alter-native to knee surgery without any of theassociated risks.Bionicare is simple to use and imperceptiveto the patient, with treatment deliveredusing a simple night-time wrap and/ or theOActive off-loading OA knee brace. The system delivers an electronic impulsedirectly to the knee and after treatmentrestores the health of the knee, bringingback a patient’s quality of life. Bionicare is cost-effective compared toknee surgery, low risk and backed by five studies, prescribed by over4000 clinicians in the USA treating in excess of 80,000 patients withoutstanding results.

Enquiries: For further information and a product demonstration contactGilbert and Mellish on 0121 475 1101 or email [email protected]

NEW from Beagle Orthopaedic’s CustomFabrication Department is the TorticollsOrthosis.

It is designed to offer patients with thisdistressing condition a long-termcomfortable solution to integrate into theirdaily lives.

Constructed from thermoformable plastics,which vary dependent upon their requiredfunction, the shoulder and headcomponents are linked using an innovativehinge.

It uses multi-directional adjustment in the flexion/extension plane,rotational adjustment to ensure optimal stabilisation when correction isapplied to the joint, and also allows the head component to be raised.

The orthosis is secured with a circumferential strap with ultra lowprofile buckle, and further optional fastenings to control the headmovement can be supplied as required

Enquiries: Visit www.spokz.co.uk or telephone 0845 2577496.

TALARMADE has added a uniqueaddition to its Trio range designedto achieve return to normal functionto the foot and protect the forefoot.

By combining features which havepreviously only been available, incombination, via a custom madedevice, Talarmade has designed aproduct which offers genuineopportunity for effective control ofdamaging pronation forces, withreduction and offloading of forefootpressures.

Enquiries: To find out more about Trio PR contact 01246 268456 oremail [email protected]

TALARMADE ADDS TRIO PRTO RANGE

NEW WHEELCHAIR RANGE LAUNCHEDPRO-ACTION KNEE BRACE

THE Pro-Action ACL/PCL Knee Brace offers afour-leverage design for optimal stabilisation,providing a range of limitation stops andimmobilisation at either 0? or 30?

Features and benefits:

•ROM Hinge with plug-in stops

•Extension limitations at: 0?, 10?, 20?, 30?

•Flexion limitations at: 0?, 30?, 45?, 60?, 90?

•Hypoallergenic silicone grip straps for antimigration

Concentric condyle pads

•Indications for use:

•After meniscus resection

•After meniscus reconstruction

•After ligament reconstruction

•Isolated or combined ligament instabilities of the knee joint

Enquiries: Telephone 0161 2736789, fax 0161 2731400 or [email protected]

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assistive technologies august / september 2011

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