APRIL NEWSLETTER 30th Annual
ASPIRE 10K Race - March 31 Congratulations to all of the Team A Step Ahead athletes that competed at the ASPIRE race. We had our largest team of athletes (18) this year participating in the 10K, 5K and ½ mile fun run. Three course records were broken. Brian O’Sullivan (AK) smashed his own record by over 7 minutes with a time of 46:05. Tommy Koehler (BK) beat the below knee record held by Ray Viscome, with a time of 42:21 and Amy Winters (BK) broke her own record by over two minutes with a time of 43:21. Other finishers in the 10K were John Ahrens ( BK), a new team member competing in his first 10K race - 53:20, Kelly Bruno (BK) - 49:03, Lauren Peters (BK) – 56:55 and braving the early morning chill, starting the race at 8:30, Elfie Knecht (BK) 2:05:29. Thanks to the assistance of the Greater Long Island Running Club 8 athletes competed in the 5 Kilometer distance. 6 of these athletes ran their first ever 5K race including, Michael Laforgia (BK/partial foot) 40:24, Nick Androlia ( BK) 40:45, Shlomo Nimrodi (AK) 43:50, Antoinette Dorazio (AK) 49:52, Suzanne Guacci (AK) 52:51, Peter Purdy (bilateral BK) 55:01. Also competing in the 5K were Isaac Feliciano (BK) 35:42 and John Tartaglio (bilateral hip disarticulation) competing on a newly fabricated running prosthesis, 1:07:29. Anthony Desano (AK), Julia Breitenbach (AK) and Brianna Copeland (bilateral AK) all completed the 1/2 mile fun run.
Team A Step Ahead at the ASPIRE Race
Amputee Support Groups The monthly ASPIRE adult amputee support group meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 25 at 6:15 pm at the Hospital for Special Surgery located at 535 East 70th Street, NY, NY. For more information about this informative monthly meeting contact Charlie Steele at charlieatl@aol.com or (646) 331-1510.
A new amputee support group is starting on long island called BELIEVE. It will begin on April 23rd at 7:30pm and every Monday thereafter. It will be held at Sacred Heart Parish at 301 Long Beach Road in Island Park, New York. Contact Susan Deluca at 516-992-5025 or by email at: springer57@optonline.net.
Patients in the News Amy Winters was featured in the May issue of Runners World. Two great photos and a story entitled, “One Tough Mama” tells Amy‘s story and her quest to be the first amputee runner to break the 3 hour mark in the marathon. Amy will be running the Boston Marathon on April 16. Boston was her first marathon in 1993, where she finished in 3:16 prior to the amputation of her left leg below the knee. Jennifer Bergman was featured in a story and interview on Access Hollywood. Jenn was interviewed about Heather Mills and her participation on the show “Dancing with the Stars” the complete article can be found at the Access Hollywood website: http://www.accesshollywood.com/news/ah4653.shtml
Tommy Koehler, Shlomo Nimrodi and Michael Laforgia along with Phil Kreuter, PT will be speaking at the monthly meeting of the Greater Long Island Running Club. The meeting is held at the Plainview Public Library, 990 Old country Road On Tuesday April 17 at 8pm. They will be speaking about their experiences as runners and athletes as well as demonstrating their running prosthesis and running techniques. The Greater Long Island Running Club is the largest running club on long island and is the organizer of the ASPIRE 10K road race.
A Step Ahead will Become a Provider of Prosthetic Care for Federal Employees A Step Ahead was asked to join, and is currently completing the process of being accepted into a federal program that will give employees in over 40 federal agencies the opportunity to receive the complete services of our facility. Based on A Step Ahead’s many years of experience in providing prostethic care to disabled veterans, we will now be a provider for prosthetic & orthotic services in the New York metropolitan region. Incorporating a 100 mile radius from our facility, employees of agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, the Coast Guard, Department of Transportation, the FBI and the Secret Service will now be able to access all of the expertise and experience of A Step Ahead. Once this application is completed and the program begins we will provide a complete listing of all the federal agencies that will be served by this program. A Step Ahead is very proud to be selected by the federal government to provide the highest quality prostethic and orthotic care for its employees.
Technology  The Proprio Foot & Ankle System: In our continued effort to assist patients to live life without limitations, we have begun fitting the Proprio Foot by Ossur. A Step Ahead is one of the first private facilities in the world to be authorized by Ossur to fit the Proprio foot. The Proprio foot and ankle system is the first powered prosthesis for below the knee amputees. This new technology incorporates artificial intelligence and terrain logic, which improves mobility and reduces energy expenditure. If you are interested in finding out more about the Proprio foot and ankle system, call A Step Ahead for a free consultation. For more detailed information on this exciting new technology, call and speak to one of our prosthetists, or, click HERE.
 The New C-leg: Otto Bock has recently launched its newest update to the C-leg. It has been redesigned and now includes a wireless remote to allow the patient to switch between modes, an electronic lock for standing and a third mode that allows the user to slightly adjust the knee’s function for a variety of activities. For more information about the C-leg, call and speak to one of our prosthetists or visit: http://www.ottobockus.com
Rehab Corner - Phil Kreuter, PT
Strengthening Exercise Besides flexibility and aerobic exercise an essential part of rehabilitation is improving and maintaining strength. The trauma of the loss of a limb significantly affects the strength of the remaining muscles. Muscles in the residual limb atrophy (get smaller and weaker) after amputation. Irregardless of the location of the amputation, it is essential that early and continued exercises are incorporated into a regular routine to regain and maintain muscle strength. The most important muscles to focus on are the muscles in your residual limb. By increasing the strength of the muscles in your residual limb you will improve the control you have in your prosthetic socket and therefore improve your function throughout all your activities of daily living.
Strengthening exercises should be started as early as possible after surgery. The initial exercises that are done post surgically are sometimes referred to as pre-prosthetic or dynamic stump exercises. These exercises are designed to increase strength in all of the muscles of your residual limb and to prepare your residual limb for prostethic fitting. The following photos are two examples of non weight bearing strengthening exercises. 
The first exercise is designed to strengthen the hip extensor muscles. Lie on your back. Tighten the buttock muscles and push the leg down into the towel roll or pillow. This can be done for above the knee and below the knee amputees.
The second exercise strengthens the muscles at the out side of your hip. Lie on your amputated side. Press your residual limb into the towel or pillow to raise your hip off the table. This exercise can also be done for below the knee and above the knee amputees.
Consult your physician and a physical therapist regarding your readiness for any exercise program as well as details on the frequency and intensity of each exercise. Next months newsletter will highlight more advanced strengthening exercises. For more information on developing an exercise program contact Phil Kreuter, PT at phil@astepaheadonline.com
From the Prosthetist  Although summer seems a long time away, early spring is the time to consider making some changes and/or additions to your prosthesis for the summer months. If you love the beach, the pool, or water sports, we can build a customized waterproof prosthesis for you. If you have always had the desire to wear shorts and sandals in the summer, we can design and build a custom silicone skin cover for you. Save your old prosthetics components and we can use them to make a waterproof prosthesis for all your warm weather activities. The Skin Tones System can even be designed to be used in the water as a fully waterproof prosthesis that can be submerged for swimming and other water sports. For more information about our Skin Tones System, visit our website and view our photo gallery.
Amputee Coalition of America The ACA has an entire section dedicated to youth with limb loss: ACA Youth Amputee Ezone: http://www.amputee-coalition.org/yaz/index.asp This section of the website gives children access to the youth in motion magazine, youth fact sheets, many links to other sites and organizations for children with disabilities as well as a fun and games section. Don't miss ACA's Youth Camp in Warm Springs, Georgia, July 18-22, 2007. For more information about the camp visit this link http://www.amputee-coalition.org/youth_camp.html SAVE THE DATE: RALLY AT THE NEW YORK STATE CAPITOL SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2007!
The Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) is excited to announce we will be holding a rally at the New York State Capitol in Albany on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This is your chance to organize your family, friends and co-workers to show up with you at the Capitol and to demonstrate support for Prosthetic Parity! Your attendance will truly make a difference! Make sure to save Tuesday, April 17 on your calendar. Bill Status: There are two bills being considered in the legislature, but they include the same language. When deemed medically necessary and prescribed by a physician, insurance companies would be required to cover the cost of prosthesis. The bill would set a Medicare standard for New York State insurance companies to meet for prosthetic coverage. Hence, the standard that currently applies to people over 65 or to veterans returning from the Iraq war would be used for people who hold an insurance policy. Goals: The rally is an opportunity to educate the media and legislators about limb loss and urge our elected officials to hold a public hearing for Assembly Bill 1274 and Senate Bill 1672. Why should I attend? Last year, neither the Senate nor the House bills received a public hearing and they both died. This rally is our opportunity to keep the 2007 bills moving forward. You will help shape public policy for New Yorkers living with limb loss! Let’s show legislators that prosthetic coverage for New Yorkers is a top-priority. Program: The program is still being finalized, but you should plan to arrive at 10:00 a.m. and stay until 2:00 p.m. We will meet in Room 130 of the Legislative Office Building (LOB). We are working to organize a press conference and coordinate visits with legislators. For more information or to R.S.V.P. contact APPLL@amputee-coalition.org or call 202/ 742-1885.
Web Site Updates We have recently upgraded our website. Some of the new features include a new look to the photo gallery and a new look to the Virtual Tour which provides you with a complete video and slide tour of our facility. In addition, our site is now available in 7 languages. By clicking on one of the flags on the bottom of any page the text will automatically change to one of the following languages; French, German, Russian, Chinese, Italian or Spanish. Look for more changes, and upgrades to the website in the near future. JOIN THE FUN AT THE EMPIRE STATE GAMES All children with a physical disability between the ages of 5 -21 have the opportunity to participate and compete at the Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged. This year the games will take place from May 31- June 2. The games are held at the Mitchell Athletic Complex in Uniondale, long Island. This year Amy Winters will be the key note speaker at the opening ceremonies of the games on Thursday, May 31 at 6:30. The games include events in track and field, swimming, table tennis archery, wheelchair slalom, wheelchair basketball. In addition there are many demonstration events, adapted games and giveaways. For more information or to register for the games call the office and speak to Phil Kreuter.
Notes from Theresa Schuh, Patient Care Coordinator Please be advised that when you call to schedule an appointment you may be asked to acquire a prescription from your doctor. By New York State law, we are unable to deliver items to patients without a prescription. When you call to schedule your appointment, you will be informed if it is necessary to obtain a prescription, and what pertinent information should be included. Following these guidelines may prevent having to make additional appointments as well as improve our patient care.
Mobility Clinics Join Dave Balsley, P.T. and Phil Kreuter, P.T. for their monthly mobility clinic, Sunday, March 25 at 10 am at the Jericho High School track on Long Island. They will provide instruction in gait training and running techniques as well as advanced mobility skills. Dave and Phil have extensive experience working with amputees of all ages and activity levels. Come work out with world class athletes; learn from experienced coaches and physical therapists. The setting is relaxed and enjoyable. There is no pressure, come and learn and see what you can do to improve yourself or just watch. For more information and directions to the mobility clinic, please call the office at 516-681-3484. | 
