A Step Ahead Prosthetics

The Pentagon's Bionic Arm

2009-04-16T14:52:00.001-04:00

(CBS) When Americans are wounded in Afghanistan or Iraq, no expense is spared to save their lives. But once they're home, if they have suffered an amputation of their arm, they usually end up wearing an artificial limb that hasn't changed much since World War II.

In all the wonders of modern medicine, building a robotic arm with a fully functioning hand has not been remotely possible.

But as 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley reports, that is starting to change. One remarkable leap in technology is called the DEKA arm and it's just one of the breakthroughs in a $100 million Pentagon program called "Revolutionizing Prosthetics."

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Adirondack Ice Climbing and Skiing Trip

2009-03-24T11:17:00.001-04:00

Not long ago the basic perception of the fierce Adirondack winters was about enduring rather then enjoying them. On March 13th, 3 juniors and 1 adult athlete of Team A Step Ahead traveled to the Adirondack Mountains in Lake Placid, New York. Edriss Crawley-Tate (AK), Sofia Castillo (AK), Victoria Cutrone-Foley (AK) and Craig Pratka (AK) not only endured but conquered the Snowy Mountains where the Olympic Games were held in 1932 and 1980.

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Man born without lower legs breaks running world record

2009-03-23T15:33:00.001-04:00

A NOTTS runner, who was born without lower legs, has broken a half-marathon world record.

Richard Whitehead completed the 13.1-mile Bath Half in just 1h 19m – two minutes faster than the previous leg amputee record.

He said: "A fellow amputee came up to me afterwards and said, 'do you know you broke a record?' and I was just wowed!

"I got a lot of support on the road. My plan was to go quite hard at the start and I was stoked by the time. I knew I'd be quite close as my training has been intense."

The Colwick runner, who last year ran four international marathons in one month, is now training for the 2012 Paralympic Games.

But there is no category for leg amputees, so he will be competing in the marathon against arm amputees.

Mr Whitehead, 32, does not have knees and runs on prosthetic limbs.

He said: "I always get one or two cheeky guys that say 'you must have an advantage' but I think, 'hang on, I don't have knees and I don't have legs!'"

In 2004 he completed his first marathon in 5h 19m but after years of hard work and dedicated training his personal best is now 3h 14m. The world record for a leg amputee is 3h 4m and Richard is hoping to beat that this year.

The self-trained runner is now being coached by elite runner Liz Yelling, who was trained in the Paula Radcliffe camp.

Currently in Italy for the Rome Marathon tomorrow, Richard is also planning to run marathons in Boston, Chicago and New York this year – as well as the Robin Hood Half Marathon on home soil.

When he is not running around the world, Richard works part-time for Nottingham City Council, coaching schools about inclusion in sport.

He said: "When I first started running, it was a case of never running before and I wanted to show the public what a double-leg amputee could achieve – but now it's about more achievements within running and, hopefully, I can keep pushing the boundaries.

"I'm getting more and more competitive. There's a lot of people out there that need inspiration in life and if they see me running and it does that, then it keeps me going.

"I ran in the Middle East in Beruit, Africa and America – it's opened my eyes."

delia.monk@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk

Really Cool Idea!

2009-03-19T02:07:00.002-04:00

Amputee biker turns false finger into USB drive
By Visordown News
Finnish computer programmer makes good use of bad luck

A MOTORCYCLIST who lost one of his fingers in a bike accident has turned prosthetic replacement finger into a USB drive.

Finnish computer programmer Jerry Jalava combined a 2GB memory stick with his false finger to store photos, movies and programmes. The finger can be easily removed from Jalava's hand and then plugged into a computer's USB drive.

"I'm planning to use another prosthetic as a shell for the next version, which will have removable fingertip and RFID tag," he wrote on his blog, ProtoBlogr.net.

Mr Jalava's lost the digit after he crashed into a deer while riding his motorbike.

Sam Cila and A Step Ahead Prosthetics on Sesame Street

2009-03-10T10:15:00.003-04:00

Sam Cila and A Step Ahead Prosthetics will be featured in a Sesame Street special entitled “Coming Home: Military Families Cope with Change”. The show will focus on military families who are coping with a mom or dad who have been injured in the war. The how airs Wednesday, April 1st at 8 PM nationwide on PBS. To see a preview of the show go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QoOlBjXESU

Sam Cila of Riverhead, New York joined the New York National Guard shortly after the September 11th attacks. Trained as a sniper, he quickly rose to the rank of Sergeant as a member of the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment. On July 4th, 2005, Sam was wounded in an IED blast while on patrol just outside of the Green Zone in Baghdad. Near death, Sam’s life was saved by the quick reactions of his platoon medic who stabilized his wounds and evacuated him for further care.

Within days of his injury, Sam was evacuated to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. where he underwent more than 40 surgeries. The severe blast wounds that Sam sustained to the left side of his body left him with limited left arm mobility and no use of his left hand.

After consultations with physicians and the staff of A Step Ahead Prosthetics, Sam made the decision to undergo amputation of his left hand. On January 22, four weeks after his amputation Sam received his myoelectric prosthesis with the i-Limb hand, a Sensor Speed hand with a Skin Tones custom silicone skin cover, a Greifer hand, and a custom terminal device for cycling. Sam is an avid cyclist and triathelte who competes in road racing and multiple distance triathlons including the ½ Ironman.

TV Host With One Arm Ignites Protests: Parents Defend BBC TV Host Against Claims That She Frightens Children

2009-03-09T14:11:00.003-04:00

When a handful of parents complained that the host of a British children's television show was scaring young viewers, comments exploded on Internet message boards -- some so vicious they had to be removed.

Cerrie Burnell, 29, who was born with one arm, sparked heated message board debate after she was hired a month ago to appear on CBeebies, the BBC's digital children's channel.

One woman who called herself "Chiara's mum," wrote, "My daughter won't watch with the new presenters. She is only 2 and notices the lady's arm has gone. She thinks she is hurt every day."

One father said the show would give his daughter nightmares, and others said their children were too young to cope or even that the BBC was too aggressive in its policy to hire "minorities" to meet quotas.

Since the initial comments appeared, advocacy groups and parents of those born with "limb deficiencies" have seized on the story as a teachable moment.

"I find comments from complaining parents very hurtful," said Julie Detheridge of Coventry, whose 9-year-old son who was born without a right hand.

"Should my son be kept locked away in case he frightens someone?" she asked. "He is no less of a person just because he was born with part of his hand missing."

And today, commenters on the CBeebies Web site were overwhelmingly dismissive of what they called a "handful" of parents who were uncomfortable with Burnell's disability, likening their reaction to racial prejudice.

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Nintendo’s Interactive Video Games Help You Get Fit

2009-03-04T11:17:00.003-05:00

Video games are not just for fun anymore. Nintendo’s popular Wii virtual gaming system is now being used as a tool in rehabilitation and physical therapy. A Step Ahead and Mobility Physical Therapy have initiated a new exercise program for amputees that incorporates the use of the Wii Sport and Wii Fit games. The Nintendo system uses a motion-sensing controller and a motion sensing balance board, allowing patients to play virtual sports and games. Patients have a wireless device that interacts with the animated athlete on a television screen so they are able to play tennis, bowling, baseball, golf and a variety of fitness programs including balance, yoga, aerobic and strengthening exercises.

The games and fitness activities improve range of motion, endurance, balance, strength and coordination. The Wii games and the Wii Fit provide a variety of opportunities to improve weight bearing and increase balance as well as strength by providing visual biofeedback while performing simple and fun exercises and playing sports on the TV screen. Call us to see how we can customize an exercise program with Wii Fit and Wii Sports to help you improve balance strength and fitness.

A Step Ahead's New Facebook Group

2009-03-03T00:23:00.003-05:00

Ok, we've finally done it....we've joined Facebook. 250 million people can't be wrong, can they? So check it out, we'll be keeping it updated with our events and news, and of course we always love to hear what you have to say!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=128805480264

A Step Ahead Supports the National Meningitis Association

2009-03-03T00:02:00.008-05:00

A Step Ahead is pleased to be supporting the upcoming National Meningitis Association (NMA) Gala Benefit Dinner entitled “GIVE KIDS A SHOT” on May 12th, 2009, at the Rainbow Room in New York City. A Step Ahead patient John Kach (Bilateral BK/Partial Hands) will be one of the honorees receiving the Nancy Ford Springer Inspiration Award.

NMA’s mission is to educate families and medical professionals about bacterial meningitis and prevention approaches to the disease. NMA is focused on raising awareness and protection among adolescents and young adults, many of whom can be protected through education and vaccination efforts.

A Step Ahead patients Peter Purdy, Michael LaForgia, John Kach and Heather Tufano and their families are actively involved in promoting the mission of NMA.

For more information about the disease, about NMA’s work or how you can buy tickets to the Gala fundraising event, visit NMA’s website at: www.nmaus.org/gala2009.htm or call 1 (866) 366-3662.

Double-amputee runner Pistorius out of hospital after boat crash

2009-03-02T23:59:00.001-05:00

Double-amputee runner Oscar Pistorius is out of hospital after suffering head and facial injuries in a boating accident near Johannesburg on Saturday.

The South African underwent surgery on Sunday and was sent home from Johannesburg's Milpark Hospital on Wednesday.

Hospital spokeswoman Amelda Swartz said the Paralympic 100-metre and 400-m champion is "doing well."

Pistorius was born without fibulas — the long, thin outer bone between the knee and ankle. His legs were amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old.

The 22-year-old made headlines last spring with his quest to compete in the Beijing Olympics with able-bodied athletes.

In May, a Court of Appeal overturned a ruling by the International Association of Athletics Federations that banned Pistorius from Olympic competition.

The IAAF had argued his carbon-fibre prosthetic racing blades gave him a competitive advantage.

The ban was reversed before the Beijing Games, but Pistorius fell short of making the qualifying time for the 400-m event.

The athlete came second in the 400 m at South Africa's 2007 national able-bodied championships and has set world records in three Paralympic events.

The Wrestler

2009-01-24T21:51:00.000-05:00

I just saw the new Mickey Rourke film, The Wrestler. It's a great movie. Rourke and his supporting cast are outstanding, and there's an excellent scene that features a C-leg. However, am I the only person that finds Bruce Springsteen's title song offensive? I'm not a huge fan of The Boss anyway but I can't deny that the guy has talent and I did like Nebraska and Human Touch, albums whose songs mirror the sparse and emotional nature of The Wrestler's title song. The melody is beautiful and haunting, but the lyrics irk me with three references to amputees - one being a dog! - and how they reflect the pathetic nature of the song's central character. I get tired of amputees being portrayed negatively, especially when all the amputees I know are so cool and amazing.

Boots, boots, boots

2009-01-08T09:36:00.000-05:00

Here's my first post and it's fairly frivolous. Winter is here and my focus is boots. I love them, especially now that my prosthetic leg is covered with the fabulous, life-like skin system that A Step Ahead creates. The problem is that my favorite shoes - flats, to be exact - will not stay on my prosthetic foot if I am wearing tights or stockings. My solution has been to wear either flats without stockings, or I wear boots. I wear flats from March until November, but once it gets really cold, I break out the boots and wear them pretty much non-stop throughout the winter. I love them almost as much as I love my flats, but it's hard to find ones with a proper zipper that allow me to get my foot in and out. Does anyone have any suggestions or tips for finding good boots or know of a good brand? I like shopping online at Zappos.com and Shoes.com because they have free shipping and a 365 day return policy. That means I can wear whatever I buy around the house for a week or more to make sure I like the way they fit, to ensure the last does not throw off my alignment (I'm an AK), and to determine whether or not they are easy enough to get in and out of without too much trouble. These sites also allow you to search for shoes by color, style, size and heel height. Right now I'm desperate for black flat dress boots. I have a pair but they are getting shabby. Like I said, this was going to be a frivolous post.

getting back to being active after surgery

2008-12-30T15:33:00.000-05:00

I recently had surgery on my residual limb and I find it difficult waiting till the doctor says I can get back to running. I want to keep my fitness level but am having trouble coming up with activities to do this.