assistive technologies october / november 2011

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By Dominic Musgrave RESEARCHERS at the University of Bradford have unveiled new technology which allows disabled people to control their electric wheelchairs by simply moving their eyes. The breakthrough could help severely disabled people who up until now have not been able to move independently. This research, led by Dr Prashant Pillai, developed a unique eye controlled robot last year. But, after months of completely rewriting the software involved, they have now discovered how to apply this to an electric wheelchair and have made huge improvements to the technology. Prashant said: “We really had to go back to the beginning to make the technology work for electric wheelchairs. “We are really excited by how well our prototype is working and have managed to reduce the reaction time from when the eye movement takes place down from a few seconds to just a few milliseconds – which will feel instantaneous for the user. We have also made the headset completely wireless.” The technology works by the user wearing a tracking device on their face - like a pair of glasses – which has a small camera on it. The camera sends a signal to a central unit via infra-red LEDs, precisely tracking eye movement right down to the exact position of the iris, which then relays the message to the electronics of the wheelchair. Users simply look in the direction they wish to travel and the wheelchair responds. Developed by the Future Ubiquitous Networks research team from the University's School of Engineering, Design and Technology, which is led by Professor Fun Hu and Prashant, the system has been named IRIS – Intelligent Recognition for Interactive Systems. Prashant added: “There are further opportunities to develop the technology to other electrical items in the home, and potentially removing the need for a headset completely, allowing wall mounted cameras in the user's home to pick up eye movement and wirelessly relay instructions to the technology used. “The longer term aspiration is to work towards a fully assisted home, where a user could just look at their television, lighting or music equipment to switch it on.” The team now intend to refine the technology further, then consult with disability groups to carry out user testing. They are hoping to attract external investment to allow them to further develop it and take it to market. Wheelchair eye control device revealed PC David Rathband officially opened the bi-annual Naidex Scotland in Glasgow. He also signed copies of his recently launched book Tango 190 in which he describes in his own words the night he was shot by gunman Raoul Moat, his recovery and how he set up the Blue Lamp foundation, the aim of which is to support members of the emergency services who have been injured in the line of duty. INNOVATION FOR INDEPENDENCE ISSUE 81 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 11 £6.95

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Page 1: Assistive Technologies October / November 2011

By Dominic Musgrave

RESEARCHERS at the University of Bradfordhave unveiled new technology which allowsdisabled people to control their electricwheelchairs by simply moving their eyes.The breakthrough could help severely disabledpeople who up until now have not been ableto move independently.This research, led by Dr Prashant Pillai,developed a unique eye controlled robot lastyear. But, after months of completelyrewriting the software involved, they havenow discovered how to apply this to anelectric wheelchair and have made hugeimprovements to the technology.Prashant said: “We really had to go back tothe beginning to make the technology workfor electric wheelchairs. “We are really excited by how well ourprototype is working and have managed toreduce the reaction time from when the eyemovement takes place down from a fewseconds to just a few milliseconds – which willfeel instantaneous for the user. We have alsomade the headset completely wireless.”The technology works by the user wearing atracking device on their face - like a pair ofglasses – which has a small camera on it. The camera sends a signal to a central unit via

infra-red LEDs, precisely tracking eyemovement right down to the exact position ofthe iris, which then relays the message to theelectronics of the wheelchair. Users simplylook in the direction they wish to travel andthe wheelchair responds. Developed by the Future Ubiquitous Networksresearch team from the University's School ofEngineering, Design and Technology, which isled by Professor Fun Hu and Prashant, thesystem has been named IRIS – IntelligentRecognition for Interactive Systems. Prashant added: “There are furtheropportunities to develop the technology toother electrical items in the home, andpotentially removing the need for a headsetcompletely, allowing wall mounted cameras inthe user's home to pick up eye movementand wirelessly relay instructions to thetechnology used. “The longer term aspiration is to worktowards a fully assisted home, where a usercould just look at their television, lighting ormusic equipment to switch it on.”The team now intend to refine the technologyfurther, then consult with disability groups tocarry out user testing. They are hoping toattract external investment to allow them tofurther develop it and take it to market.

Wheelchair eyecontrol devicerevealed

PC David Rathband officially opened the bi-annual NaidexScotland in Glasgow.He also signed copies of his recently launched book Tango 190 inwhich he describes in his own words the night he was shot bygunman Raoul Moat, his recovery and how he set up the BlueLamp foundation, the aim of which is to support members of theemergency services who have been injured in the line of duty.

INNOVATION FOR INDEPENDENCE ISSUE 81 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 11 £6.95

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ContactsEditorialAndrew Harrod Group [email protected]

Dominic Musgrave Healthcare EditorEmail: [email protected] Tel: 01226 734407

Christina Eccles ReporterEmail: [email protected] Tel: 01226 734463

Sales Christine Daly-Sadler Product ManagerEmail: [email protected] Tel: 01226 734412 Fax: 01226 734478

Tony Barry Sales and Marketing DirectorEmail: [email protected]

[email protected] hour hotline: 01226 734695

Design/Production Judith Halkerston Group Deputy EditorEmail: [email protected] Stewart Holt Studio ManagerEmail: [email protected]

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of all contents, the publishers do not accept liability for any error, printed

or otherwise, that may occur.

www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk

Unfair mobility aid salepractices revealed in report By Dominic Musgrave

THE OFT has ssued a warning abouttraders that use unfair sales practicesto sell mobility aids such as scooters,stairlifts and adjustable beds to theelderly and disabled in their home.The report has revealed that last yearConsumer Direct, the OFT-managedadvice service, received 4,500 callsfrom people complaining or askingfor advice about mobility aids.It has found that elderly and disabledcustomers who are subject to highpressure sales techniques fromdoorstep traders can pay high pricesfor mobility aids. The report also highlighted the stressand inconvenience caused whencustomers are misled into making aninappropriate and expensivepurchase.As part of a national consumerawareness campaign, the OFT isencouraging people to shop aroundand understand their rights whenbuying mobility aids from doorsteptraders. Colin Brown, director in the OFTGoods and Consumer Group, said:“With so many different mobilityproducts available, it can be difficultto know whether you're buying theright item and what price you should

be paying. “It's important that people aren’tpressurised into making a hastydecision that could leave them out ofpocket or with an item that’s notwhat they need.“This campaign aims to help peoplehave the confidence to say no ifthey're unsure about what’s beingoffered or want to take the time todiscuss their needs with a familymember, friend or trusted healthcareprofessional.”The report adds that many traderstreat their customers fairly but someuse high pressure sales tactics thatencourage people to make snapdecisions without comparing pricesor checking to see if the product isthe right one for their needs.Director general of the BritishHealthcare Trades Association, RayHodgkinson MBE, added: “Thisshows the importance to consumersof the Code of Practice that we haveagreed with the Office of FairTrading. “People buying from firms that aremembers of the BHTA know that thesupplier is governed by that code ofpractice. It is in the interest of firmsto make sure that their potentialcustomers are aware of the code and

that they are buying from a BHTAmember. “This gives consumers a good degreeof protection and enhances thereputation of the business.”The BHTA plans to amend its Codeof Practice to require members todisplay actual prices and priceranges, to address the concernexpressed by the OFT that there is alack of price advertising on theinternet and in marketing materialswhich inhibits customers' ability toshop around in order to identifyproducts that represent good valuefor money.

Ray Hodgkinson

MEDIA

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By Christina Eccles

A NORTH West university has secured£300,000 from the European Unionto take technology widely used in thegames and movie industries to thehealth care professions.

The new Masters in Clinical GaitAnalysis at University of Salford willtrain physiotherapists and clinicalscientists to use gait analysisequipment to examine people whohave difficulty in walking andinterpret the results to provide moreeffective treatment.

Though originally developed almost30 years ago for healthcare, the gaitanalysis technology struggled tobecome widely adopted. Instead itwas seized upon as a quick way ofcreating animations – notably incomputer games and movies – andhas become much more advancedand widely re-adopted for medicine.

Despite this, there is no specialisedtraining in the use of the equipment– a lack which Salford’s new course isdesigned to solve.

The course, which will be developed

throughout the next year ready for2013 admissions, will sit alongside alarge portfolio of gait analysis at theUniversity headed by professorRichard Baker.

He said: “This grant acknowledgesSalford’s position as a Europeanleader in clinical movement analysisand our commitment to becoming acentre for excellence. Providingtraining in this area will help bring afar better standard of treatment topeople with walking difficulties.”

The University’s facilities are alreadyused by local surgeons andprofessional sports teams to treatwalking problems and improve anathlete’s speed and, as similarfacilities become more common inmedical settings, the course willprovide skilled operators.

It will be developed alongside twoother leading centres in gait analysis:VU University, Amsterdam, and theCatholic University, Leuven, Belgium.The grant has been awarded by theEU’s Lifelong Learning Programme.

The lab at Salford University.

New course to trainprofessionals usinggame technology

RESEARCHERS at two universitieshave begun a landmarkexperiment which if successfulcould see a cutting-edge roboticarm controlled by mind poweralone.

Johns Hopkins University’s AppliedPhysics Laboratory in Marylandand the University of Pittsburghwill begin testing on spinal cordinjury patients whose brains havebeen implanted with a tiny (2mmby 2mm) electrode array.

Program manager at the APL,Michael McLoughlin, said: “Whena neuron fires, an electrode willpick it up the signal will travel to atransmitter and it will betransmitted to a computer in thearm which then interprets thatsignal and converts it into amotion.

“It's a really exciting point in theprogram. We’ve been working ongetting to this point for the pastfive years.”

The Modular Prosthetic Limbweighs around nine pounds - thesame as a natural arm - andcomes close to the dexterity of a

natural limb, offering 22 degreesof motion, including individualfinger movement.

The APL was awarded the contractto develop and test the arm onhuman subjects in 2010 as part ofthe $100m RevolutionizingProsthetics program run by theU.S. Defense Advanced ResearchProjects Agency (DARPA).

Touch sensors in the fingers andthe palm will also pick upvibrations, temperature andsurface textures, according toMichael, although tests on thesewill not start until next year.

Michael said: “The results of thisprogram will help upper-limbamputees and spinal cord injurypatients, as well as those whohave lost the ability to use theirnatural limbs, to have as normal alife as possible despite severeinjuries or degenerativeneurological disease.”

The ultimate goal is for the systemto be wireless with everythingcontained in the body, much like apacemaker, he added.

Research to createmind controlled arm

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A TEENAGER who was bornwithout a left hand has been fittedwith a prosthetic one with the helpof a Formula One team.

Reading School pupil MatthewJames wrote to Mercedes teamprincipal Ross Brawn, who alsoattended the same school,explaining how his currentprosthetic hand only allows him toperform basic tasks with a simpleopen and close grip mechanism.

He also described that his targetnow was to be able to afford amore functional prosthetic arm, andhe already had in mind a specificmodel: The i-LIMB™ Pulse,developed by Touch Bionics.

Ross and the team were so movedby his letter that they got in touchwith Matthew and his dad, Robert,while a technical representativefrom the team contacted TouchBionics to start discussions.

Matthew said: “My previous armhad two sensors located at the end,

which literally pick up the impulsesof the muscles in my lower arm. Itis a simple ‘open and close’mechanism, like a claw.

“The new hand, the i-LIMB™ Pulse,has five individual motors in eachfinger and therefore each fingercan move individually.

“While it is an open/ closemechanism as well, it has differentmodes and settings which you canuse to change the ‘opening mode’,so for example you can go fromoperating all fingers to using twoand it locks the other three.”

Touch Bionics and Mercedes haveestablished a positive relationshipand, in exchange for access totechnology services that havebenefited its research anddevelopment team, the Livingston-based firm offered its clinicalservices for his fitting free. To helpMatthew raise £10,000 towards theremaining cost of the hand, theFormula One team is workingclosely with his family on theirfundraising initiative.

Formula One team supremoanswers teenager’s request

Matthew with his new hand.

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New aid launched to help blindpeople walk with confidenceBy Dominic Musgrave

A NEW mobility aid designed tomake it easier for blind and visuallyimpaired people to walk around withconfidence has been launched.

A team of entrepreneurs led byelectronics engineer Dr Paul Clark,director of Sound ForesightTechnology Ltd, pooled theirexpertise to revive and improve anaward winning device, originally soldworldwide until 2008, when theprevious owners of the companywent into receivership.

The patented UltraCane™ works bywarning users of obstacles ahead ofthem, both in their path and at headheight. The handle of the white caneis a handset fitted with transmittersand sensors.

Buttons in the handle vibrate whenthe sensors detect that an object isnear. The strength of the vibrationindicates the proximity of the object,helping the user to walk around theobstacle easily and independently.

Dr Paul Clark, whose company,Comms Design Ltd, undertook theredevelopment of the software and

electronics, said people in the UK andoverseas had indicated their interestin using the product, particularly toimprove their independence andsafety.

He added: “It is particularly gratifyingto be able to be part of an all Britishinvention with the potential toimprove the lives of blind and visuallyimpaired people around the world.

“UltraCane™ is an all round Britishsuccess story – it has beendeveloped, manufactured andbrought to market in this country andwe are very proud to be a part of it.”

The earlier version of the UltraCane™was well received by visually impairedusers around the globe, but theentrepreneurs saw that redevelopingthe device to incorporate state of theart technology could refine the way itdetected obstacles and make thetactile feedback more precise.

UltraCane™ was developed bymimicking the echo location of batswhich use wide ranging ultrasoundto build a ‘spatial map’ of theirsurroundings, allowing them toeffectively, ‘see’ in the dark.

Professor Brian Hoyle from theUniversity of Leeds, one of theoriginal inventors, added: “This is justone of the many products thatscientists and engineers aredeveloping which have been inspiredby nature.

“I am especially pleased that visuallyimpaired people would once again beable to benefit from ‘biomimetics’,

which is the transfer of materials andtechniques developed in nature overmillions of years to 21st centurytechnology and engineering”.

The UltraCane™ is currently beingexhibited at Germany’s NaturalHistory Museum in the ‘Patents ofNature’ exhibition in Munster and willbe on display there until June 2012.

The new UltraCane.

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Quadraplegic scales Snowdonfor spinal cord injury charityBy Dominic Musgrave

A MOUNTAIN climber who wasleft quadraplegic after breakinghis neck in a swimming accidenthas raised thousands of poundsfor charity by scaling MountSnowdon.

Tim Severn from SuttonColdfield was joined by 12friends for Back Up’s SnowdonPush, which challenged teamsto take a wheelchair user to thesummit of the mountain andback.

Telford-based spinal cord injurycharity Complete Group, whoTim is a client of, providedsponsorship support for theteam, which included RobertMontgomery, one of itspersonal assistants, who workswith him.

With members of Tim’s teampulling his wheelchair from thefront and pushing from behind,the group reached the summitof Snowdon in three-and-a-half

hours and completed the roundtrip time in six-and-a-half.

They finished 11th out of 16teams taking part and raisedaround £4,500, which will helpto fund activity courses run byBack Up.

Tim said: “Given our minimaltraining, fitness levels, stop atthe top and leisurely descent wewere very satisfied with ourachievement.

“I’ve never been more proud ofa group of friends and wastouched when told by variousmembers that it was the bestand most rewarding thing thatthey had ever done. We andBack Up are also extremelygrateful for the support of theComplete Group.”

Back Up works with peopleaffected by spinal cord injury,providing services includingwheelchair skills training,support in getting back to workor school and activity courses. The team at the summit of Mount Snowdon.

Advertiser’s Announcement

Award winning spinal careASPEN Medical Products Inc hasbeen awarded ‘Best NewTechnology for Spine Care’ at the2010 Spine Technology Awards.

The Vista Thoracic Stabilizer(Vista TS) received first place inthe Best New Technology inCervical Care.

Twenty three companiessubmitted medical technologiesto be judged on originality,clinical relevance, and thelikelihood of improving thecurrent standard of care.

Eight awards were presented atthe gala. The panel of six judgesincluded private and academicspine surgeons.

Geof Garth, VP of research anddevelopment, said: “Beingrecognised as the best newtechnology for spine care for thesecond year in a row issomething that Aspen MedicalProducts is very proud of.

“We recognised a need in themarketplace and the Vista TS wasthe product that resulted.

“Spinal injuries are devastating,so preventing any additional

injury during the early stages ofcare can make a huge differencein a patient’s outcome. Thedesign of this new product allowsit to be applied and fit to apatient, without delay.

“Like many great products, in it’sfinal iteration, it looks verysimple, very obvious, but it tooka lot of good thinking to make itto reality.”

The Vista® TS from Aspen® hasmultiple adjustment points toensure a comfortable, effective fitfor the vast variety of patientanatomies.

Like the Vista® Collar, the Vista®TS (two post) is fully adjustableand only one size is required,reducing inventory costs andkeeping patient care the mainpriority.

The Vista® TS is also available ina four post to offer greaterstabilisation to the patient, andyou the clinician the greatestversatility when dealing withcervical-thoracic problems intoday’s cost conscious healthcareenvironment.

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By Dominic Musgrave

A GROUP of soldiers recovering fromserious injury as a result of theirservice in Afghanistan took part in apsychological study as they hiked tothe summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The research will assess thepsychological benefits of taking on aunique physical challenge andexamine how those benefits mightcontribute to a person’s overall senseof wellbeing as they recover fromphysical trauma.

It is being carried out by Dr ShaunnaBurke, a lecturer in Sport and ExercisePsychology at the University of Leeds.

Shaunna, an expert mountaineerwho scaled Everest in 2005, climbedalongside the group and interviewedthem at intervals during the hike andat the summit.

The research forms part of a largerexpedition to Mount Kilimanjaroorganised by the Royal AlexandraHospital Foundation in Edmonton,Canada. Around 40 people, includingdoctors, professionals and business

people will be attempting the climbalongside the soldiers to raise moneyfor the hospital’s new OrthopaedicSurgery Centre.

Shaunna, a Canadian national, wasinvited to join the expedition to carryout the study.

She said: “We want to look at howthe experience and achievement ofclimbing Mount Kilimanjaro canshape the recovery and sense ofwellbeing of individuals who havegone through serious injury, or whohave undergone joint replacementsurgery.

“There has been a lot of emphasis onthe positive effects of regular,structured types of exercise oneverybody’s day-to-day physical andpsychological wellbeing, but there islittle research to explore the potentialbenefits of less structured, moredemanding physical pursuits.

“We want to better understand howdifficult goals - activities that takepeople outside their comfort zone -contribute to their psychologicalhealth.”

Among the soldiers taking part in theclimb are Corporals Mark Fuchko, atank driver from Lord Strathcona’sHorse (Royal Canadians) and DallasWhite, of the 1st Battalion, PrincessPatricia’s Canadian Light Infantry,both of whom sustained seriousinjuries while on duty in Kandaharprovince.

In 2008 Mark’s tank struck animprovised explosive device and hewas severely injured, eventually losingboth legs below the knee.

Dallas was critically injured in 2010while on patrol, two days before hewas due to return home.

A friend stepped onto a hiddentrigger, setting off an artillery shellthat had been buried in the dirt. Theblast killed his friend and Dallassustained muscle loss in his left legand damage to his left arm.

Shaunna hopes her research willultimately be useful in designingprogrammes for recovery andrehabilitation for patients recoveringfrom serious physical injury or illness.

Recovering Afghan soldiers climbKilimanjaro for pyschological study

A soldier takes a break during theKilimanjaro expedition.

PATIENTS across the North Westand beyond are set to benefitfrom a new national researchunit based in Manchester whichwill investigate the treatmentof arthritis and other diseasesaffecting the joints andmuscles.

The Manchester NIHRBiomedical Research Unit willbe run in partnership by CentralManchester University HospitalsNHS Foundation Trust and TheUniversity of Manchester.

The partners already have a

highly regardedMusculoskeletal (MSK) ResearchGroup, and have successfullyapplied to the National Institutefor Health Research for almost£5m to set up a nationallyrecognised unit to extend thegroup's work.

Led by Professor DeborahSymmons, the team ofresearchers and clinicians willpioneer new methods ofassessing early response totreatment in adults and childrenwith MSK disease, new ways of

preventing rheumatoid arthritisand its complications, newtherapies for arthritis and newresources for patients to helpthem achieve the best responseto treatment.

Deborah said: “Our researchtheme is, ‘Treating arthritis:right first time’. Byunderstanding why somepatients respond to certaintreatments and others do not,we will be able to ensure thatpatients get the right treatmentfor them from the earliest

weeks of disease.

“Indeed, in the case ofrheumatoid arthritis, we believethat we will be able to preventthe disease developing inpeople who are at high risk.

“The benefits for patients aresignificant: fewer cases ofrheumatoid arthritis and itscomplications, and effectivetreatments given earlier in thecourse of disease with fewerside effects leading to betterdisease outcomes for the mostcommon forms of arthritis.”

New unit to research arthritis treatments

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THE theme for the Society ofChiropodists and Podiatrists annualconference is ‘Keeping You on YourFeet’.

The event, which this year is beingheld in Harrogate from November24-26, will address key issues such asosteoarthritis and associateddermatological pathologies,biomechanics with orthosis or in ageneral podiatry setting withdebridement, along with topicalmedicaments or surgery.

All aspects of the profession can beseen to influence these common andsometimes forgotten podiatriccomplaints.

Speakers confirmed includerenowned consultant in sportsmedicine Dr Nick Webborn,consultant orthopaedic surgeon MarkLoeffler and Paralympic gold medallistBaroness Tanni Grey-Thompson.

Fringe meetingsFringe meetings are an importantfacet of the conference, and currentlybooked are:

� Hyperhidrosis – Hyperhidrosissupport group.

� Assistant practitioners/ orthotictechnicians.

� R&D student research network

meeting.

� Private practice networkfacilitators.

� PASCOM – meeting the team.

� Podiatry lecturers.

� Health and safety.

Social eventsWhat better way is there to finish offa day at the conference than by

attending the Society’s social events?

These start with the welcome winereception in the exhibition hall at theconference centre on the openingday from 5.45pm, which is an idealopportunity to meet with exhibitors,delegates, Society staff and councilmembers

The first joint Faculty College ofPodiatrists’ annual dinner will alsotake place, with the Dean’s from each

Faculty hosting the event.

It will be both a formal yetentertaining way to celebrate ourcombined achievements as aprofession.

Also, students are invited to show offtheir skills in ‘Podiatry has Talent’,while the infamous, not to bemissed, conference party has thetheme ‘Hollywood Glamour’.

Conference heads to Harrogate

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Speaker biogs

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson

Paralympic gold medal winner

BARONESS Tanni Grey-Thompson isBritain’s greatest Paralympic athlete.She competed in five ParalympicGames, winning 11gold medals, andis acknowledged as one of the mostgifted and courageous sportswomenof her generation.

She currently works as vice chair ofthe Athletes Commission for London2012, non-executive director of UKAthletics, as a UNICEF InternationalInspiration ambassador and sits onthe board for Transport for London.In 2010 she was elevated to theHouse of Lords, to sit on the crossbenches as a “people’s peer” withspecial interest in youth, health, sportand disability.

Mark Loeffler

Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

Mark Loeffler was medically trainedat the London Hospital; postgraduate training was at WhippsCross, Addenbrookes, The RoyalLondon Hospital, Colchester, theRoyal National Orthopaedic Hospitaland Auckland New Zealand.

Mark is currently service director fortrauma and orthopaedic surgery andeducational supervisor for thedepartment and has publishedresearch on knee surgery, hipreplacement design, prevention ofthrombosis and x-ray templating.

Nick Webborn

Chief Medical Officer for ParalympicsGB, University of Brighton

Nick is currently Medical Director ofThe Sussex Centre for Sport andExercise Medicine at The University ofBrighton and a Research Fellow ofthe Chelsea School, University ofBrighton.

He was a member of the London2012 health advisory grouppresenting to the IOC evaluationcommission and the Medical AdvisoryGroup for LOCOG and now sits onthe SEM workstream group forLOCOG and is Chief Medical Officerfor Paralympics GB for the 2012

Paralympics.

Dr John F. Grady

Director, Illinois Institute for Foot andAnkle Surgery, Chicago, USA

John was the recipient of the APMA2010 Award of Excellence, the 2008Midwest Distinguished FacultyAward, and the 2000 Alumnus of theYear Award from Rosalyn FranklinUniversity.

He has been performing foot andankle surgery for 25 years. Johncurrently does committee work forthe ABPOPPM and is on the board ofdirectors of the American Society ofPodiatric Surgeons.

Dr Jane Sterling

Senior lecturer and honoraryconsultant dermatologist, CambridgeUniversity Hospitals NHS FoundationTrust

Jane’s interest in papillomavirusstarted with a Medical ResearchCouncil Training Fellowship leading toa PhD in molecular pathology of HPVin 1990 followed by MRC ClinicianScientist Fellowship.

Since then, she has continuedresearch in viral and vulval skindisease and has supported bothdermatologists and gynaecologists inresearch projects.

Jane has written widely in the field ofviral infections of the skin and vulvaldisease, with a particular interest inhuman papillomavirus.

She regards skin warts as a challengeto be conquered and her recenttelevision appearances onEmbarrassing Bodies and DiscoveryScience USA have helped to heightenpublic awareness that warts are notalways just minor aliments.

Antony Wilkinson

Consultant podiatric surgeon, clinicalhead of podiatric surgery, DoncasterPCT

John has worked hard to develop hisskills pushing the development ofscope of practice in podiatric surgery.

Antony is a registered tutor with theFaculty of Podiatric Surgery and hashad a number of trainees throughthe department, both pre fellowshipand post fellowship podiatrists.

He has been involved in the politicalside of the profession, being electedto the Faculty Board four years agoand subsequently holding theposition of regional chair of theNorthern region, Vice Dean of theFaculty of Surgery and latterly Deanof the Faculty of Podiatric Surgery.

Dame Tanni leads speaker list

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A FIRM of Tees Valley fitnessspecialists has teamed up with aPremier League football team to helpits players avoid the injuries thatplagued its first team last season.

Sunderland has invited privatephysiotherapy clinic, Body 2 Fit, todeliver weekly Pilates and yogaclasses to the playing staff.

The deal will see everyone fromyouth team players to star namestake part in 30 minute bodyconditioning sessions at the club’sAcademy of Light training complex.

Sunderland's medical staff aredetermined to explore every possibleavenue to prevent a repeat of thespate of injuries that derailed theclub’s bid for European qualificationlast season.

Body 2 Fit co-founder and directorRobert White said some of theSunderland players had initially beenwary of the changes to their routine.

He added: “Probably the hardestthing is to get men to accept thatyoga or Pilates is for them.

“Sunderland asked us to work withsome of the first team last year andwere so happy they invited us to rollit out to the whole club.

“At the start there was no doubt thatsome of the players were a bitreluctant to get involved.

“Most footballers are used to aparticular routine, which typicallyinvolves running around, match

practice and weights. But the morethey stick at it I think they will startto see that it is beneficial for themand their careers.

“It has been proven, for example,that working the smaller musclegroups around the centre of thespine can help to reduce thelikelihood of things such as hamstringinjuries. Getting that into the mindsof the younger players is ideal as itbecomes part of their regular work.”

The deal with Body 2 Fit aims to helpthe squad to understand how theirbodies work and adopt new ways ofstrengthening muscles that may notrespond to traditional trainingmethods.

The firm has recently investedthousands of pounds in newequipment from the US. It is beingused at the studio by a wide range ofclients from rowers and dancers togolfers who are looking to improve

their swing.

And Joy Feary, co-founder of thebusiness, became the region's onlycertified practitioner with aqualification from the PilatesFoundation to teach studio andequipment based pilates.

She is part of a team which includesspecialist physiotherapists, sportsinjury experts, podiatrists andpersonal trainers.

Company to deliver classes tohelp footballers avoid injuries

Robert White with Joy Feary.

PHYSIOTHERAPISTS at GlasgowCaledonian University are trekking tothe moon in a virtual challengeorganised by Chest Heart and StrokeScotland.

The staff and students are among200 people from the university whoare joining a collective bid to cover

238,857 miles; the equivalentdistance between the earth and themoon.

The walkers all have pedometers andwill monitor their activity by ‘banking’their miles as they walk, run or cycle.

Other health care groups in Scotland,

including cardiac, respiratory andstroke groups, are also contributingtheir efforts to the challenge – withpatients also getting involved.

“I think the imagery of getting acardiac rehab group to the moon is abrilliant concept,” said Dr MoragThow, lecturer in physiotherapy at

the University. “My cardiac rehab

group in Glasgow are doing the

Bridges Walk, which is a five mile

walk round all the bridges on the

Clyde. And lots of other groups have

come up with different things to do,

so it’s really taken off.”

Physios trek to the moon for university charity challenge

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Soldiers reach summit as theyprepare for Everest attemptA TEAM of wounded servicemenhave reached the summit of theworld’s eighth highest mountain aspart of their preparations to tackleEverest next year.

Seven of the original nine membersof the Walking with the Woundedteam made it to the top ofManaslu in the Himalayas at thesecond attempt, after the weatherforced them to abort their firstsummit push when thick snowmade the climb too dangerous.

Two former soldiers were unable tomake the final climb due to altitudedifficulties

Expedition leader Russell Brice said:“It turned out to be a good year,even though we were first worried

that the weather would play trickson us and we would not reach thesummit at all.

“It was wonderful to see the teamworking so well, and moreover tosee them climbing through areasthat on our first rotation seemeddifficult and caused some of theboys a few troubles. I knew as westeamed through Camp I and II, wewere in with a chance to summit ifthe weather held.”

In May 2012, a group of woundedservicemen will attempt a life-changing journey to the highestpeak in the world, Mount Everest.

Charity founder Edward Parker saidreaching the summit of Manasluwas a critical event in the team’s

training schedule, and he, Russelland project manager Martin Hewittwill now select the team for nextyear.

He added: “Summiting the world’seighth highest peak just 800mlower than Everest, is a wonderfulachievement for the team andembodies the spirit and tenacity ofwounded servicemen and womenall over the world.

“While summiting Manaslu is anincredible individual achievement,this is only part of a build up to thebig event. The team have someway to go before they will be readyfor Everest.”

The success follows the charity’sexpedition to the North Pole earlier

this year, for which the team werejoined for part of the way by PrinceHarry. Their efforts were the subjectof a two-part BBC documentary‘Harry’s Heroes’, and the team wasalso recognised at the recent DailyMirror Pride of Britain Awards.

Walking with the Wounded aims toraise money to re-skill and re-traininjured servicemen and womenfrom the British Armed Forces.

It also aims to raise a further £2mfor identified education projectsand training courses, whichspecifically account for bothphysical and mental injuriessustained by servicemen andwomen.

The focus of the fourth annual Amputee Games was on using sport to aid rehabilitation.The Games have been designed to allow amputees who would like to get into sport thechance to go along and join the ‘have-a-go’ sessions. Over the weekend guests wereable to participate in 13 different sports, including basketball, volleyball, tennis, cycling,rowing and fencing. The event is organised by Limbpower and supported by Blatchfordsand The Boost Charitable Trust.

Tatiana celebrates with delivery

The team that reached the North Pole earlier this year.

AN American woman celebrated her21st birthday by taking delivery ofher new pair of ‘stubbies’ prostheticdevices from PACE Rehabilitation’sCheadle, Cheshire clinic.

When aged only four, Tatiana Slatercontracted meningitis. Her parentstook her to a Florida hospital to befitted with full length prostheses.

She said: “At the time, the doctorssaid that I would not walk again.However, when I was five I tried, bywalking on my stumps, which wasquite successful apart from thebruising it caused.

“I found my prosthesesuncomfortable and really didn’t geton with them. However, I perseveredwith them into my teens, until Ifound it more practical andcomfortable to use ‘stubbies’instead”.

‘Stubbies’ are short prostheticdevices, consisting of a prostheticsocket, with either a foot or rockersole, but without a knee unit.

Prosthetist Howard Woolley said:“Stubbies provide a bi-lateral above(or through) the knee patient withseveral potential advantages,compared to conventional (fulllength) prosthetic devices.

“Due to their low centre of gravity, auser’s stability (and therefore safety)is improved. More importantly, lessenergy is required to use them.

“One stubby was good straight away,but the other required someadjustments, which was a littlefrustrating. Tatiana’s scar tissuerequired careful management, interms of the socket fit, but weworked well together to achieve asuccessful result.”

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ENGINEERING researchers at fourAmerican universities are embarkingon a four-year project to design aprosthetic arm that amputees cancontrol directly with their brains andthat will allow them to feel what theytouch.

The research at Drexel University, RiceUniversity, the University of Michigan,and the University of Maryland isbeing made possible by a $1.2mgrant from the National ScienceFoundation's Human-CenteredComputing program.

Rice University co-principalinvestigator Dr Marcia O'Malley said:“There's nothing fictional about this.The investigators on this grant havealready demonstrated that much ofthis is possible.

“What remains is to bring all of it -non-invasive neural decoding, directbrain control and tactile sensoryfeedback - together into one device.”

Marcia and her co-investigators onthe project have previouslydemonstrated technology thatallowed amputees to correctlyperceive and manipulate objects with

a prosthetic gripper based uponsensory feedback that was providedin a natural way to the remainingportion of their limbs.

The team plans to incorporatetechnology that feeds both tactileinformation from the prostheticfingertips and grasping-forceinformation from the prosthetic handvia a robotic exoskeleton andtouchpads that vibrate, stretch andsqueeze the skin where theprosthesis attaches to the body.

Marcia said the new technology is abig improvement on existing devices,which do not allow amputees to feelwhat they touch.

She added: “Some state-of-the-artprostheses today use force-feedbacksystems that vibrate - much like thevibrate mode on a mobile phone - toprovide limited information aboutobjects a prosthetic hand is gripping.

“Neuroprosthetic control is animportant part of our project, but anequally important challenge isproviding sensory feedback forcontact tasks that are performed withthe prosthesis.

Project to create arm to enablepeople to feel what they touch

Work begins to design a prosthetic arm that amputees can control directly with theirbrains.

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A YORKSHIRE physiotherapy practicehas moved to new premises as itgears up for new growth.

Physio Med, launched in Leeds in2000, provides occupationalphysiotherapy services to majorclients including Royal Mail, Waitrose,Rolls Royce and the Department ofWork & Pensions.

The company offers services includingits Physiotherapy Advice Line (PAL) toemployees, and claims its initiativeshelp businesses to reduce staffsickness absence levels and theassociated costs, as well as boostingstaff morale, performance andproductivity.

Now the company, which has annualturnover of more than £2m a year,employs 12 people and has anetwork of more than 2,000chartered physiotherapists across theUK, has revealed fresh branding as itmoves into new headquarters.

Physio Med has invested £600,000into converting the formerWheatsheaf Inn in Leeds. RenamedChartered House, the 5,000 sq ftbuilding includes extensive modernoffice space and treatment rooms.

Managing director Phil Clayton said:“This is the start of a new era forPhysio Med. We have established arobust business over the last 11 yearsand the time is now right to take itto the next level.

“Our new branding communicatesthe close relationship we have withour clients - being in touch with theway they work.

“We have spent a lot of time andmoney in creating our new HQ. TheWheatsheaf is easily accessible fromthe city centre and offers a greatcombination of office space andtreatment rooms - which we want tomake available to local businessesand individuals as well as our existingclients. This move will allow ourcontinued growth withoutcompromising on quality.”

Former Bradford Bulls’ head physioMark Fletcher is responsible for theclinical side of Physio Med and hebelieves that in the current climatebusinesses cannot afford to neglectstaff’s health and wellbeing.

He added: “What we do is work withbusinesses to ensure individualsreceive appropriate physiotherapy

treatment to return them to fitnessand work as quickly as possible but ina cost effective way.

“Through PAL - our telephone andweb-based physiotherapy adviceservice - employees can be put intouch with a qualified physio withinas little as two hours of reportingtheir injury or problem to theiremployer and we can then establishwhether the injury requires a face-to-

face appointment or treated throughthe PAL service.

“It is a clinically robust system whichresolves a minimum of 65 per cent ofinjuries without the need for themore expensive ‘hands on’ treatment,thus making significant cost savingsand returning staff to the job muchmore quickly. The health ofemployees is not something thatemployers can afford to ignore.”

Yorkshire practice set to growafter move to new premises

Physio Med’s management team, from left: Jake Fletcher, sales director; Phil Clayton,managing director; Mark Fletcher, clinical director and Nikki Harris, head of development.

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SOUTH African Paralympian OscarPistorious will deliver the keynotespeech at a one-day prostheticssporting conference at HampdenNational Stadium in Glasgow nextmonth.

The event, which is being organisedby University of Strathclyde’s NationalCentre for Prosthetics and Orthoticson November 11, is the secondsporting prosthetics conferenceorganised by the national centre, andwill welcome delegates from allsports, rehabilitation and academicfields to hear inspirational andmotivational speakers empowerpeople to become more active andparticipate in sport and exercise.

Also known as the ‘Blade Runner’,Oscar is the double amputee worldrecord holder in the 100, 200 and400 metres events, and runs with theaid of Ossur’s Cheetah Flex-Footcarbon fibre transtibial artificial limbs.

As the London 2012 Olympic Gamesand the Glasgow 2014Commonwealth Games approaches,the event aims to explore innovativeconcepts and examples of goodpractice in sporting prosthetics forthe benefit of the prosthesis user.

The conference will also provide aforum to examine the designinnovations of sporting prostheses;the prosthetic and physiotherapyrehabilitation associated with sport;as well as the mechanisms by whichpeople affected by disability canbecome involved in physical activity,exercise and sport.

Key commercial partners will be

showcasing their rehabilitation andsports innovations at the dedicatedconference exhibition.

The unique event builds upon agrowing research and knowledgeexchange profile at the NationalCentre for Prosthetics and Orthoticsknown as SPEEAD (SportingProsthetics for Everyday and EliteAthletes with a Disability).

The aim of SPEEAD is to benefit theprosthetics profession, the academiccommunity and most importantlythose who wish to become moreactive and participate in exercise andsports.

With SPEEAD in its third year ofactivity, the National Centre is proudto be continuing collaborativepartnerships with national andinternational academic, commercialand charitable partners.

Maria Miller MP checks out a product on her visit to Blatchford’s.

Oscar to deliverkeynote speech

MINISTER for the Disabled MariaMiller MP has nominated Blatchfordfor the Made by Britain Project, setup by the all Party ParliamentaryGroup on Manufacturing.

Welcomed by Stephen Blatchford,CEO, and conducted on her tour ofthe factory in Basingstoke bytechnical director Saeed Zahedi OBEand operations director RobertWelsh, Maria spoke to a number ofamputees who were testingprosthetic prototypes about thechanges the new technologies, likemicroprocessor controlled knees andfeet, make in enhancing their abilityto take part in all the activitiesnecessary to their lifestyles.

The products Maria looked at werethe élan foot, to be launched earlynext year, which is a microprocessorcontrolled foot/ ankle which changesthe ankle resistance and toe positionto adapt to terrain and speedchanges, and the Orion Knee, whichis a microprocessor controlled kneethat understands when the amputeeis on a ramp or stairs and increasesthe resistance to flexion to stop theknee buckling.

It also senses speed changes and revsup the pace or slows downaccordingly, thereby enabling theuser to freely walk in their chosenenvironment.

Prosthetics company putforward for project by MP

PACE Rehabilitation prosthetistHoward Woolley and IrishParalympic cycling hopefulColin Lynch will be among thespeakers at the conference.

Colin became PACE’s newestrecruit, personifying whatbespoke provision can provide.

He had been training andcompeting on a ‘tired’prosthesis, which he was alsousing for daily activities.

Together, they will be providinga fascinating insight into thejourney taken in creating aspecialist prosthetic device thatis contributing to Colin’s goalfor Paralympic cycling successin 2012.

Howard will outline theobstacles which they have had

to overcome and the creativesolutions that have beenapplied to provide Colin withan optimal and efficient device.

The pair will explain howthrough the use video captureand data logging equipment onColin’s racing cycle, they haveconstructed a prosthetic devicethat is contributing tosignificant gains in Colin’sperformance.

Since collaborating with PACE,Colin has projecting himself toWorld Champion (UCIParacycling, C2 category),netting world records andmedals along the way. Apractical demonstration ofColin in action with thebespoke device will concludethe presentation.

Paralympic hopeful andprosthetist among speakers

Oscar Pistorious

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USING inclusive equipment toexercise at home could be key toenabling a person living with adisability to take the first steps toleading an independent life.

When you live with a disability,getting to and from the gym can bea challenge and time consuming.

Confidence levels can also often below in the initial stages of living witha disability and attending a gym canbe a daunting task.

In these circumstances, working outprivately at home to gain strengthand confidence first can be themotivating step a person living withtheir disability needs to start theirroad to fitness.

This is certainly true of 27-year-oldTim Hart from Essex, who suffersfrom Friedreich’s Ataxia, an inheriteddisease where the nervous systemdoes not allow messages sent outfrom the brain to travel as quickly asthey need to the muscles.

This slow muscle response results in alack of control over the body’smuscles and movement in generaltakes a lot longer.

Tim’s condition means he is in awheelchair and his disability has beenfurther complicated by alsodeveloping Scoliosis.

He underwent corrective spinalsurgery for the Scoliosis to insert ametal rod, which subsequently failed,snapping in half while in position.After several painful operations tocorrect this, Tim was left with verylittle fitness as the intense painaround his spine meant he was

unable to keep up with his usual gymroutine.

Sadly, not being able to work hismuscles also made the Friedreich’sAtaxia worse as regular exercise canhelp to keep it under control.

This lack of exercise led to Timgaining weight and lacking inconfidence to attend the gym and soinstead he decided to create his owngym at home.

He said: “Visiting the gym hasbecome like a long and tedious taskand, with my fitness as it is currently,I don’t really like going.

“Also, as I need to exercise everydayto get my fitness and strength backup to where it was before the spinalsurgery, it just made sense to create asmall workout area at home.

“I selected the SCIFIT PRO1 UpperBody Exerciser as its suitable for usewith a wheelchair and is InclusiveFitness Initiative accredited so its isreally easy to use. I try and use thePRO1 every day: 45 minutes inmorning, 25 minutes in theafternoon before doing some weighttraining and then a 15-minute sprintin the evening.

“I’ve noticed that even after only acouple of weeks my upper bodystrength and general cardio fitnesshas really improved and this ismotivating me to get back to my fullfitness prior to the spinal injury.”

SCIFIT is one of the UK’s leadingsuppliers of specialist cardio fitnessmachines, including the PRO1 UpperBody Exerciser.

Celebrity chef Michael Caines MBE officially opened Port-er’s inaugural exhibition forpeople with mobility challenges and their carers, as a showcase for modern, innovativeproduct designs and services.

He opened the show with an engaging and inspiring talk about how he came to lose hisarm, and his journey to becoming the household name he is today. Other talks includeda presentation from Jim Bonney of Adventure Rehab, ability technology group DorsetOrthopaedic and an inspiring talk from Port-er trustee Colin Edwards about his CoastalWay challenge. However, the biggest twist in the day was when a team from ChannelFive’s new programme ‘Celebrity Wishlist’ turned up. It has been created to raise fundsand awareness for some of the most deserving and unsung charities throughout the UK.The show is due to air on November 14 at 7.30pm.

Exerciser inspiresTim to get backto full fitness

RAYNAUD’S is a common conditionin which blood is prevented fromreaching the extremities of the body,mainly the fingers and toes, onexposure to the cold or any slightchange in temperature.

It is reported to affect one in fivepeople.

Up until recently there has been verylittle to assist sufferers from theeffects of this painful and debilitatingcondition. Individuals have tried invain to heat up peripheral regionswhile allowing them to continue withtheir occupations and activities ofdaily living.

Orthotix has worked in partnershipwith an experienced manufacturer ofoutdoor clothing to design a glovewhich effectively heat up thesufferer’s hands and still allow thehands to be functional while havingthe gloves donned.

The glove is made from the verylatest materials and lined with acarbon fibre matrix to ensure itprovides the optimum benefit for thewearer.

Heat is distributed through the matrixand is powered via a smallrechargeable battery located in apocket on the wristband of theglove. Battery recharging is achievedin the same manner as a mobilephone, thus ensuring the simplest ofuse.

Orthotix has achieved excellentresults from their initial trials with thegloves and are now receiving anincreased number of daily enquiriesfrom occupational therapists,physiotherapists and many morehealthcare professionals.

The heated gloves are nowexclusively available through OrthotixSports & Orthopaedic Bracing.

Heated gloves designedto ease the pain

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Atlantic Rim Spinal Bracing distributedby DeNovo Healthcare Ltd

Advertiser’s Announcement

DENOVO Healthcare are committedto our philosophy of providingquality service and choice andrepresent market leadinginternational orthotic and prostheticmanufactures in the UK and Ireland.Providing a high quality costeffective orthoses to clinics quicklyis paramount to achieving successfuloutcomes. One such supplier werepresent is the Atlantic Rim MfgCorporation who, over many years,has developed its manufacturingskills to enable it to specialise onlyin the production of prefabricatedand custom made spinal braces.This unique area of specialisation

allows Atlantic Rim to pursue itscore values of comfort precision andperfection, enabling the company toproduce a brace which fits theneeds of the patient and in aconsistent time span which is notavailable from other manufacturers.

How is this achieved? The companyhas a large warehouse whichhouses a library of 5,000 spinalbrace moulds which are cataloguedmeasured and stored on a database and can be cross referenced toa patient’s details.

The mould can then be modifiedand a new mould milled on state ofthe art C.A.D. C.A.M. milling

equipment. Due to the fact thecompany only specialises in spinalbracing it has a wealth ofknowledge which helps it toovercome many of the problemsassociated with the materials usedin the drape moulding of largeritems. This means the quality levelsof the finished product are of amuch higher standard.

In addition to this the company canaccept measurements in severalways to suit the needs of thepractitioner.

However, the most reliabletransmission of information is totake a corrected cast of the torso

and, with the use of a low costhand held scanning device, todownload the digital information viathe internet.

This instant transmission ofinformation will allow the companyto produce a brace very quickly andship it back to the practitioner overnight by DHL.

Average leads times for bespokeorthoses of less than a week enablethe practitioner to maintain aweekly clinic. We believe the serviceprovided by Atlantic Rim is uniquein both its delivery and outstandingquality.

Comfort – Precision – PerfectionThese are core values Atlantic Rim commit to when they manufacture a brace for you.

For further information please contact us at:[email protected]

Tel: +44(0)1934 808416www.denovohealthcare.com

A Teesside University lecturer is preparing to play a key physiotherapy role at the London Olympic andParalympic Games. Dominic Musgrave reports.

NEXT year will be Julie Sparrow’sthird Olympic experience as aphysiotherapist and she has alsoworked at four CommonwealthGames.

She has worked as a senior lecturerin physiotherapy at the Universitysince 2001.

At the London Olympic andParalympic Games she will be part ofan elite team of ‘physiotherapytrouble-shooters’ ready to respondacross the venues to ensure theneeds of athletes from around theworld are met.

Julie said: “I remember very clearlythe day London was announced for2012. I was sat watching it on mycomputer at the University and ranaround the landing so excited.

“The way I feel about the Olympicsbeing here next year is indescribable,I think it’s going to be absolutelyfabulous.

“I’ve spoken to cabbies in the capitaland they’re really looking forward toit, they’re very proud of their city. I’llbe able to see whatever there is tosee, if you are behind the sceneswhat you get to view is even more

special.”

Over 750 physiotherapists areexpected to be volunteering theirservices to help the LondonOrganising Committee of theOlympics Games and ParalympicGames deliver the best service to theworld’s best athletes.

Julie, who previously worked as a HQphysiotherapist with Team GB atAtlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000,will be based in London for a seven-week period, covering the run up tothe Olympics and the conclusion ofthe Paralympics.

In Atlanta the former PE teacher wasbased with the diving and fencingteams, while in Sydney she workedwith the rowers and saw Sir SteveRedgrave clinch his fifth Olympicgold.

“That was such an amazing day,”added Julie. “I was on the watersideworking with the rowing team and Iwas able to watch them come off thewater after the victory.

“They were away from the crowdsand cameras, carrying their boat withmedals hanging proudly from theirnecks. That was a privileged position

to be in and so emotional.

“It was my ambition when I cameinto teaching that I would havegraduates working at the Olympics.Sarah McDonnell, a Master’sgraduate has worked at the WinterOlympics with the bobsleigh teamand Alistair Little and Rob Smart,

who was in the first cohort I taught,will be at London.”

Julie has also worked at the last fourCommonwealth Games in KualaLumpur in 1998, Manchester in2002, Melbourne in 2006 and Delhilast year.

Julie set for an Olympic hat-trick

Julie Sparrow will be working at her third Olympics next year.

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THE Vanderbilt device uses thelatest advances in computer,sensor, electric motor and batterytechnology to give it bioniccapabilities, and is believed to bethe first prosthetic with poweredknee and ankle joints that operatein unison.

It comes equipped with sensorsthat monitor its user’s motion. Ithas microprocessors programmedto use this data to predict whatthe person is trying to do andoperate the device in ways thatfacilitate these movements.

Craig Hutto, a 23-year-oldamputee who has tested the legsthe university has developed forseveral years, said: “When it’sworking, it’s totally different frommy current prosthetic. A passiveleg is always a step behind me.The Vanderbilt leg is only a split-second behind.

“Going up and down slopes is oneof the hardest things to do with aconventional leg. So I have to beconscious of where I go because Ican get very tired walking up anddown slopes.

“But that won’t be a problem withthe powered leg because it goesup and down slopes almost like anatural one.”

The bionic leg is the result of aseven-year research effort at theVanderbilt Center for IntelligentMechatronics, directed by MichaelGoldfarb, professor of mechanicalengineering.

Key aspects of the design havebeen patented by the University,

which has granted exclusive rightsto develop the prosthesis toFreedom Innovations.

Michael said: “With our latestmodel, we have validated ourhypothesis that the righttechnology was available to makea lower-limb prosthetic withpowered knee and ankle joints.

“Our device illustrates the progresswe are making at integrating manand machine.”

Recent technological advanceshave allowed the Vanderbiltengineers to produce a device thatweighs about nine pounds – lessthan most human lower legs – andcan operate for three days ofnormal activity, or 13 to 14kilometres of continuous walking,on a single charge.

They have also dramaticallyreduced the amount of noise thatthe latest model makes, althoughit is slightly louder than they wouldlike. One of the latest capabilitiesthe engineers have added is ananti-stumble routine. If the legsenses that its user is starting tostumble, it will lift up the leg toclear any obstruction and plant thefoot on the floor.

“As you add greater capability, youare also adding greater liability,”added Michael. “Not only does thecontroller have to performindividual operations reliability, butit has to perform severaloperations at the same time andnot get confused.”

A lower-limb prosthetic developed at an American university allows amputees to walkwithout the leg-dragging gait characteristic of conventional artificial legs. Dominic Musgravefound out more.

New device features ankle andknee joints operating in unison

Michael Goldfarb with Craig Hutto and the new leg.

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Offering an alternative approachto rehabilitation after trauma

Krissi Daly Sadler joined Adventure Rehab‘s family weekend to see the positive effect multi-disciplinary rehabilitation can have.

ADVENTURE Rehab has gone fromstrength to strength over the lastyear, and this summer saw the firstof what will hopefully be manyfamily weekends.

It was held at Outposts AdventureCentre near Taunton. Theirprogrammes run throughout theyear and consists of a three-dayassessment course followed by asix-month rehabilitationprogramme that includes fiveresidential weeks spreadthroughout the period.

During this time the clients have onhand a host of professionals;physiotherapists, psychologists,doctors, councillors, coaches andmentors.

Occupational therapists andprosthetists also join the clients

during the assessment process.

Company director Jim Bonney saida common obstacle the team arefacing is that Adventure Rehab isonly for those patients who arefully comfortable on theirprosthesis.

He added: “Adventure Rehab isopen to every patient, regardless ofconfidence or injury level.

“Whether they have been usingtheir limb for a week or for years,they will gain something from thecourse.

“The only thing the patient needsto bring with them is a sense ofadventure - the fully trained teamat Adventure Rehab will providethe rest. The programme isdesigned to challenge the clientboth physically and mentally.

“Even in this short period of timemindsets begin to change from ‘Ican’t do that’ to ‘I am not surehow I am going to do that, but Iwill give it a go and find a way’.”

The idea behind the familyweekends is to get the patient’swhole family involved in therehabilitation process. The weekwas planned out with a variety ofactivities from team buildingexercises to open canoeing.

Having heard Jim deliver talksabout the company and their ethoson a few occasions I felt I knewwhat to expect when I arrived.

I couldn’t have been more wrong,what I was met with was a groupof people that you would havethought had been friends for yearsand just going away on a weekend

together, not a group of peoplethat had never met before or agroup of people who quietly hadtheir own reservations as towhether they would be able tocomplete all of the challenges ofthe weekend.

Regardless of injury level everyonegot involved, those that were moreconfident helped those that werenot and the children led the way inevery activity – except when thetime came to build the rafts, whichwas obviously a job for the boys.

What Adventure Rehab are doing isnot new by any means. Jim,Richard and their team are takingthe best they have experienced intheir rehabilitation through HeadleyCourt and are offering it to theopen market.

Climbing and raft building are just two of the activities that take place during the Adventure Rehab weekend near Taunton.

OSSUR has joined forces with aleading charity to provide researchfunding to support theestablishment of a newexperimental osteoarthritistreatment centre in the UK.

Osteoarthritis is the most commonform of joint disease, causing painand stiffness in joints and affectingover eight million people in the UK.

To address this important area ofresearch, Arthritis Research UK isestablishing the Össur-supportedEOTC, which will test noveltreatment and rehabilitationapproaches for the condition.

The centre's research is expected toparticularly focus on biomechanical

solutions, such as knee braces andother advanced technologyapplications.

The first of its kind, the centre willbe based in a single UK institutionwith expertise in clinical studies ofosteoarthritis interventions.Researchers will evaluate variouscharacteristics of people sufferingfrom OA, including imagingstudies, gait analyses and otherbiomechanical investigations, inorder to better assess itsmechanisms of action and identifythe most appropriate interventionto relieve patients’ pain and restoremobility.

Ossur president and CEO JonSigurdsson said: “Osteoarthritis is

an ever-increasing health issueaffecting millions of peopleworldwide.

“It is our hope that ourcollaboration with ArthritisResearch UK and the EOTC willyield important research thatdeepens both our understanding ofOA and the best biomechanicalsolutions for treating thisprogressive, debilitating condition.”

The multiyear funding provided byÖssur will support the EOTC’soperational infrastructure. UKuniversities and hospitals wishing tosubmit grant proposals forestablishing it at their institutionmust do so by November 2.

Firm and charity join forces to launch centre Vegas launchfor productsUPPER limb prosthetic technologyprovider Touch Bionics hasrevealed new and upgradedproducts at the American Orthoticand Prosthetic AssociationNational Assembly in Las Vegas.

Key developments include the i-limb™ ultra, an upgraded versionof its flagship prosthetic handsolution, and virtu-limb™, aprosthetic training and simulationtool. Also introduced at AOPA,living image is an imaging systemthat accurately captures thecolour and appearance of limbsfor the creation of the livingskin®range of passive siliconeprostheses.

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sponsors kids

Computer games which help young people with cystic fibrosis cope better with treatment, andimprove monitoring of their condition, are being developed by the University of Derby. DominicMusgrave found out more.

Games help people to cope betterCYSTIC fibrosis is a life-threatening,inherited disease which affects morethan 9,000 people in the UK.

Internal organs, especially lungs andthe digestive system, clog with athick mucus which makes it hard tobreathe and digest food. Half ofthose with cystic fibrosis don't livepast their late thirties.

University experts have developedfour prototype computer gamesdesigned to help young people withthe condition cope better with thedifficult daily exercises they do toexpel mucus from their lungs. Thegames will also aid in monitoringlung efficiency.

Dr David Day, senior lecturer andteaching fellow in the School ofComputing and Mathematics at theUniversity, has a four-year-olddaughter, Alicia, with cystic fibrosis.

He said: “Children need regularphysiotherapy so they can expel themucus clogging their lungs,otherwise it becomes a breedingground for bacteria which couldmake them sicker. Physiotherapyincludes things like lightlypummelling the chest or back of theperson.

“We also use a Positive ExpiratoryPressure (PEP) mask, which fits overthe face and makes it harder forthem to breathe out, so they willpush up the mucus from the bottomof their lungs and cough it out.Children find PEP treatment difficult,unpleasant and boring, and it can behard to get them to do it."

The Derby researchers fitted the PEPmask with a device that converts thechild's breaths into electronic signals.By controlling their breathing pattern,

they can control characters onscreenin the computer games.

The technology is a development ofthe way paraplegics use breathingtubes to control powered wheelchairsand other electronic aids.

University computer games specialist,Dr Andreas Oikonomou, added: “Bykeeping a record of how well theplayer does in the computer games, amedical consultant can chart theefficiency of their lungs. The games’flexibility means even pre-school

children should be able to play at theeasiest levels.”

The researchers will now apply foradditional funding to provide testversions of the games to 10 youngpeople, aged from six to nine, to trialthe games and device to get somefeedback from users.

The original £55,000 funding for theproject came from the University; aCollaborative Research andDevelopment grant from theHealthcare and Bioscience iNet,

which is funded by the East MidlandsDevelopment Agency (emda) andpart-financed by the EuropeanRegional Development Fund; and aEuropean Union InnovationFellowship grant.

The University's Faculty of Arts,Design and Technology; and itsbusiness-to-business arm UniversityDerby Corporate (UDC); also helpeddevelop the project. The researchersnow hope to develop this into aproduct which can be made widelyavailable.

Dr David Day, former senior lecturer and Teaching Fellow in the School of Computing and Mathematics at the University of Derby, withhis four-year-old daughter Alicia, who has cystic fibrosis and University computer games specialist Dr Andreas Oikonomou. To the leftis one of the developed games onscreen.

HEALTHCARE provider Simplyhealthhas donated more than £42,000 toBath Institute of Medical Engineeringfor its children’s fun mobility aidproduct.

Developed by a team of engineers atthe charitable institute, the Wizzybugis a powered vehicle for disabledchildren to experience early years’mobility.

Tony Husband, commercial managerat the BIME, said: “With the fundingwe will be able to continue toprovide Wizzybugs to more childrenwith limited mobility.

“The Wizzybugs have a range ofcontrols and seating adjustments.They can be used with adultsupervision indoors and out, inaccessible areas such as levelgardens, playgrounds and parks,enabling children to have a funexperience with their ‘first Wheels’.”

Mark Day, spokesperson forSimplyhealth, added: “TheWizzybugs, designed by the team atthe Institute, is a fantastic conceptand we hope our donation will helpthe team to continue to provide andto develop this innovative children'smobility aid.”

Funding donation helps Institute build children’s mobility vehicle

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Our new-look features sectionsgive you the opportunity toadvertise your business on a pagedesignated to your own specificfield:

To find out more ring ChristineDaly-Sadler on 01226 734412

Podiatry, SportsRehab and Children

A PODIATRIST has launched a newcharity to get homeless in St Helensback on their feet - with the help ofa Premier League footballer.Director of Comfystep ChiropodyServices, Cath Hughes is hoping tohelp homeless people with their footproblems and kit them out with newshoes for the winter.The Twinkle Toes Appeal will meanlocal people can donate good qualityshoes or trainers to a number ofdrop off points in the borough.In November, Cath and her team ofvolunteers will provide free podiatryand chiropody treatments to thehomeless. The foot specialist has alsoenlisted the help of Wigan Athletic’sEmmerson Boyce.She said: “I have always wanted tolaunch something like this, for aslong as I can remember I havethought about helping the homelessin some way.“Now I have the time to do it andhave everything in place to goahead. It’s a project that I am hopingruns for as long as possible.

“I was keen to roll it out acrossWigan and St Helens as I wanted tokeep it local, I wanted to give Wiganpeople the chance to help but I havealso been asked to launch the charityacross Manchester and furtherafield.”Twinkle Toes asks for a donation of adecent pair of shoes that arewaterproof and are not damagedwhich will see a homeless personthrough the winter months.Cath added: “We don’t want shoesthat people wouldn’t wearthemselves, they have to be goodquality. We also don’t want any UGGboots as they are not waterproof, orno heels.“The people that live on the streetshave a lot of problems with theirfeet, for a start, they can’t cut theirtoe nails which is vitally important.“Some have trauma to the feet,particularly if they are drug takers oralcohol dependent and some peoplemay have circulatory and hygieneproblems. I intend to help thesepeople with these problems.”

Cath helps kitout homelesswith shoe appeal

Salford forum will have afocus on sports podiatryDELCAM will host a secondOrthotics Technology Forum atSalford University next year.

The event on July 12 and 13follows on from the success of theinitial one in Bath earlier this year,and will again cover newtechnologies and processesdesigned to assist practitioners andlaboratories in prescribing,designing and manufacturingcustom orthotic insoles.

With the Olympic Games due to beheld in the UK in 2012, the Forumwill also include a strong focus onsports podiatry.

Delcam is currently contactinginternational speakers that areleading the way in developing andusing different types of technology,including hardware devices to helpmeasure biomechanical features,pressure and anatomical form, andCADCAM tools for plasterlessmanufacture, as well as new ideas

for increasing productivity andreducing manufacturing costs.

The programme is set to be asvaried and educational as thisyear’s event, showing the latesttechnology that is currently beingused in the design andmanufacture of orthotic insoles aswell as what may be on thehorizon.

The aim is to provide anotheropportunity for delegates to see awide variety of innovativetechnologies from a combination ofdiverse organisations.

As part of the focus on sport, theForum Dinner will be held atManchester United’s Old Traffordstadium.

There will also be the opportunityfor delegates and speakers tonetwork during the evening toshare their experiences withcolleagues from around the world.

sponsors podiatry

A NEW £250,000 podiatry unit at ahospital on the Isle of Wight featuresan elevated walkway to enable staffto analyse patients' walking styles.

And in order to support podiatrypatients and other people on the

island who take little exercise, Isle of

Wight Health has launched a new

programme to encourage people to

go for walks. The scheme takes place

on the first and third Wednesday of

every month and lasts 90 minutes.

Elevated walkway plan for new unit

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sponsors sports rehab

THE country’s leading femaledisabled tennis player is using theCOMPEX Mi Sport as part of herrehabilitation programme.The machine was recommended toLucy Shuker, from Fleet inHampshire after she was diagnosedwith a 6x7mm progressive tear to atendon in her forearm, which washer first injury she had sufferedsince taking up the sport.The injury forced her to withdrawfrom the Australian Open GrandSlam and put her out for a furtherfive months of competition - whichincluded the USA tour, Europe,World Team Cup and RolandGarros. Lucy told Assistive Technologies shehoped it was something she wouldnever go through again.“Being a T4 paraplegic, my armsare my legs, so to speak, socompletely resting my arm wasimpossible as I use them 24/7,” sheadded. “My injury was thought tobe down to overload, soappropriate loading of the isolatedtendon was tough too.“I’m using my COMPEX to helptrain and strengthen other weakerareas, for example, in my shoulderblades where I’ve had significantmuscle imbalances. And now I amback competing again, the

COMPEX Mi Sport unit travels allround the world with me tomaintain and increase my strengthespecially in my forearm to helpprevent any future injuries. “I firmly believe that it has been afundamental part of my rehab andhas enabled me to get back to mytennis training and competitionand has helped me win the firstfew tournaments I have competedin since my injury.”In June, Lucy returned tocompetition notching up impressivesuccesses, winning the Women’sSingles at the Slovakia Open, boththe Singles and the Doubles at theCanada InternationalChampionship and the Doubles atthe PTR Championships. She competed in her firstParalympic Games in Beijing 2008and is hoping to win a medal inLondon next year.Physiotherapist Robert Hill, whorecommend the equipment to Lucy,added: “The main aim of using theCOMPEX initially was to use themuscle strengthening programmeto put a very controlled amount ofstrain on the muscle with the initialtear to assist its repair andregeneration. “As Lucy's capability improved wethen used the COMPEX to prepare

her arm for the type of movementsand positions that she needed toperform on the tennis court.Throughout the whole rehabprocess, the machine was allowingLucy to work hard in a totallycontrolled and pain freeenvironment.”Lucy was first encouraged to takeup tennis by leading player PeterNorfolk following her rehabilitation

from a motorbike accident whichleft her paralysed from the chestdown in 2001.He sold her one of his company’sspecialist wheelchairs and shemade rapid progress through thevarious levels of the sport. She is now firmly established in theworld’s top 10 in both women’ssingles and doubles on the NECWheelchair Tennis Tour.

Tennis star uses equipment as part of regime

OTTO Bock has unveiled its technicalservice provider team for next year’sParalympic Games.

Throughout the event the companywill provide a team of 80 techniciansthat will play a pivotal role inensuring the athletes are able toperform to their fullest potential.

The team will provide athletes withimmediate repairs for prosthetics,orthoses and wheelchairs, operating

out of three repair centres in theathletes’ village, nine workshopsacross the venues and one mobileunit. The operation will be headed upby a group of experienced logisticaland operational managers with manyyears of Games’ experience, who willoversee the delivery of technicalservices to the approximate 4,200athletes expected to compete.

Professor Hans George Nader,president and CEO of Otto Bock

Healthcare, said: “All athletescompeting at the London 2012Paralympic Games can be confidentthat whatever their technical needs,they will be understood and expertlylooked after by our leadership teamand technicians working throughoutour workshops.”

The main workshop in the Paralympicvillage will open a week before theopening ceremony. Nine tonnes ofequipment will be unpacked and

assembled in two days to ensure theit is open before the start ofcompetition to take care of anyadjustments to equipment requiredfollowing transit, as the athletesmake their final preparations.

This will be Otto Bock’s 12thParalympic Games and the team willoversee as many as 2,000 repairs forathletes from over 120 countries; co-ordinate 15,000 spare parts; andreplace 2000 wheelchair tyres.

Lucy Shuker is shown how to use her COMPEX Mi Sport by COMPEX Sportsphysiotherapist Cliff Eaton.

Technical service provider unveils London Paralympics team

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A BIRMINGHAM hospital has beenpresented with a state-of-the-artfitness machine to aid the recovery ofsoldiers wounded in Afghanistan.

The Stourbridge-based division ofVersaclimber UK has donated one ofits Versaclimber Sportsmedicalmodels to the Queen Elizabeth centreto help all physiotherapy patientsregain their muscle strength, amongwhich will be British militarypersonnel injured on deployment inthe Middle East.

Emma Batchelor, clinical specialist inphysiotherapy at the hospital, said:“It’s ideal for our patients because itprovides a low impact workout,ensuring exercising is comfortableand the amount of stress placed onthe ankles, knees, hips and spine islimited.

“We have used this machine withmilitary patients who have lower limbinjuries because it enables us toisolate and exercise the upper partsof the body.

“It’s excellent for strengthening andconditioning, enabling patients toexercise a variety of muscle groups.Plus, general fitness is really good formanaging overall health andwellbeing, further aiding recovery.”

The machines, which normally retailfor over £4,000 each, are designed

to work all muscle groups, and willthereby allow physiotherapy patientsto rapidly build up strength duringtheir recovery.

The Queen Elizabeth hospital openedlast year in Edgbaston, Birmingham,

and incorporates the new RoyalCentre for Defence Medicine, whichprovides medical support to themilitary’s operational deploymentsand provides training for the forces’medical staff, as well as a 30-bedmilitary ward for injured soldiers.

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A DETERMINED athlete has set hissights on competing for Team GB atnext year’s Paralympics just fouryears after a car crash left him witha severe spinal injury.

Scott Steele is undergoing agruelling training regime in thehealth club at Chase ParkRehabilitation Centre in the NorthEast in a bid to make one of theregional disabled rowing clubs andthen stand a chance of qualifyingfor the national team.

The 22-year-old from Gateshead isaiming to become one of the UK’stop 50 disabled rowers to competein the single skull event and theneventually take his place alongsidethe elite members that make upTeam GB’s Paralympics’ rowingteam.

Whickham Villa LLP, which operatesChase Park Rehabilitation Centre,Millfield House Care Home and

Whickham Villa health club inGateshead, has partnered withserious injuries Irwin MitchellSolicitors to support Scott with clubfees, sponsored kit and free accessto the rehabilitation centre’s fitnessresources and expert staff.

Scott, whose injury left himdisabled back in 2007 and requiringseveral operations and sustainedrehabilitation treatment, said: “I amdetermined to represent the Northin Paralympics’ rowing and amworking very hard to achieve thisgoal. If not in 2012, my dream stillremains to fly the flag for the Northand of course Team GB on theinternational stage.

“I also hope my approach toactively living my life inspiresothers to face their fears and getinvolved with sport regardless oftheir disability.”

Scott currently undertakes fivesessions a week with one of

Whickham Villa Health Club’sdedicated personal trainers to buildhis strength and endurance to beable to compete at the highestlevel.

He also trains at Durham rowingclub, although this has beenhampered by a lack of adaptableequipment to funding cuts.

Scott added: “As disabled rowing isnot a mainstream sport, thefacilities at Durham are prettylimited.

“Our aim is to hopefully raiseawareness of the sport and securesome funding to get the type ofspecialist equipment that is onlycurrently available in Teesside,which of course is not ideal forthose like me based on Tyneside.”

Alongside his love for rowing, Scotthas also recently begun a degree inLaw at Northumbria University inNewcastle.

Athlete aims to compete atnext year’s Paralympics

Scott Steele

Fitness machine to aid injuredsoldiers’ recovery given to hospital

Emma Batchelor, clinical specialist in physiotherapy at Queen Elizabeth Hospitalwith Neil Kelford, managing director of Versaclimber UK and Anne Vickerstaff.

PARALYMPIC gold medalswimmer Peter Hull MBE wasamong the speakers at aconference held atSouthampton University.

Joining him at the eventwere Chris Holmes MBE,director of Paralympicintegration for the LondonOrganising Committee of theOlympic and ParalympicGames and Geoff Holt MBE,disability sports ambassadorand former chairman andtrustee of RYA Sailability.

The aim of the conferencewas to ensure people makethe most of the London 2012Paralympic Games, as well asthe legacy that will follow,and are prepared for theincreased interest in disabilitysports.

The event also featuredworkshops based on eliteand recreational standardparticipation andopportunities, facilitated byexperts in their fieldsfocusing on: ‘Breaking DownBarriers’, ‘Facilities andEquipment’ and ‘Making theMost of London 2012’.

Gold medalwinner speaksat conference

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INTRODUCING THE DYNAPRO™TORTICOLLIS ORTHOSIS

30

THE DynaPro™ Torticollis Orthosis isthe latest addition to the OCSI rangeof stock orthoses distributed by Trulife– available for next day delivery fromtheir head office in Sheffield.

Designed to treat lateral flexion ofthe head and neck, this new orthosisfeatures a ‘Bend to Fit’ shoulder cuffwhich allows for quick and easycustomisation to allow for restorativetorticollis therapy.

In addition, the semi-rigid heatmoldable upright with ‘flex’technology allows for a gentle stretchto reverse tissue shortening or manage lateral cervical flexion spasticity.

Using the DynaPro™ Torticollis Orthosis can significantly improvefunctional alignment of the head and neck facilitating improved vision,swallowing and performance of ADL’s.

Enquiries: For further information contact Trulife on 0114 261 8100 oremail [email protected]

ORTHOTIX’S comprehensive range of sportsand orthopaedic bracing now includes therevolutionary Boxia ® ankle foot orthosis forflaccid paralysis drop foot sufferers.

Manufactured using the latest generationof fabrics and elastomers it is comfortable,cosmetic and discreetly provides fullfunctionality.

The Boxia ® device consists of two separatecomponents; a cuff situated above the ankleand a non-slip hook section placed betweenthe footwear’s tongue and laces/Velcro straps.

These sections are connected by an elastic strap which providescomplete adjustment of the required level of dorsiflexion.

The Boxia ® support raises the forefoot, providing vital foot clearanceduring swing phase, reducing the risk of tripping over everyday itemssuch as rugs, kerbs and uneven surfaces.

The Boxia ® also encourages natural gait pattern by allowing normalankle movement when stepping off the foot. A shoeless attachment isalso available for this product from Orthotix.Enquiries: Contact 02920 370 696 or email [email protected]

NEXT GENERATION OF TREATMENTFOR FLACCID PARALYSIS DROP FOOT

NEW from Beagle Orthopaedic’s CustomFabrication Department is their TorticollisOrthosis, designed to offer patients withthis distressing condition a long-termcomfortable solution to integrate intotheir daily lives.

Constructed from thermoformableplastics, which vary dependent upon theirrequired function, the shoulder and headcomponents are linked using aninnovative hinge which uses multi-directional adjustment in theflexion/extension plane, rotationaladjustment to ensure optimal stabilisationwhen correction is applied to the joint,and also allows the head component to beraised.

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: Contact 01254 268788 for further details.

BEAGLE ORTHOPAEDIC CONTINUESTO ADD TO CUSTOM RANGE

THE front opening design and easy-opening tabs on the Velcro strapsmake this brace suitable for the arthritic or elderly patients, who maysuffer from limited dexterity.

The brace incorporates hyper stop hinges which provide medial andlateral support for unstable knee, while allowing flexion. The internalaccess to the hinge allows for easy removal for laundering.

Product feature and benefits

• Front opening• Universal left and right.• Contrasting proximal and distal strap to

counter rotation.• Open popliteal area for added comfort

during flexion.• Removable hyper stop hinges.• Easy grip stabs for patients with porr dexterity.• Fully adjustable front and rear straps.

• Indication• Increasing medial/lateral support.• Rheumatoid arthritis.• Mild to moderate hypertension.• Mild to moderate valgus / varus deformity.

Enquiries: For more information visit www.benecaremedical.com or call 0161 273 6789.

NEO-WRAP KNEE BRACE FROMBENECARE

HEADING

THE Foot-Up® is a lightweight ankle orthosis,designed to provide dynamic support for drop foot orsimilar conditions.

This simple orthosis not only provides visibleimprovement in the patient's gait, by providingsupport the moment the foot is raised, but it is easy tofit and practically invisible when worn. As a responseto patient requests, this hugely popular product isnow available in beige.

Foot-up combines two separate parts; anergonomic ankle wrap, which connects to a plastic inlay that fits between thetongue and the laces of a shoe.

A separate shoeless foot wrap is also available, which enables the orthosisto be worn without footwear. Both attachments fasten to the ankle wrap by astrong elastic strap with a quick release clip.

The ankle wrap is made from a breathable three-layered structure, whichmakes it comfortable to wear for long periods, without causing irritation tothe skin or impeding the foot's freedom of movement.

The Foot-up is available in three sizes and includes a shoe inlay. Additionalplastic inlays and the Shoeless Foot Wrap are supplied separately fromwww.ossurwebshop.co.uk. Discounts apply on orders of a Foot-Up andShoeless Wrap together.Enquiries: Telephone 08450 065 065, email [email protected] or visit www.ossur.co.uk

ÖSSUR FOOT UP® NOW AVAILABLE IN BEIGE

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