Newsletters

January Newsletter      Vol.  5 Issue 1

Patients in the News

Charlie Steele, was featured in an ABC news story on diabetes and amputations   The story, part of a series on Diabetes by ABC entitled “Ignore Warning Signs, Lose a Limb, Diabetes: Mean, Nasty and Silent Disease Is Leading Cause of Amputation”. He coordinates the A.S.P.I.R.E.  support group in New York City. He is an ACA Regional Representative, a peer visitor/trainer, and a member of the National Consumer Advisory Panel for the Limb Loss Research & Statistics Program (LLRSP).

To read the story on diabetes and amputations go to:  
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/DiabetesResource/story?id=4022387&page=1

Amy Palmiero-Winters will be featured in a cover story in the Long Island Life Section of the Sunday January 6 edition of Newsday. The story and photos as well as an online edition with video will focus on Amy’s recent athletic accomplishments and awards and her goals for 2008 and beyond which include being the first female amputee to run a 100 mile ultra marathon and to qualify in her age group for the Ironman World championships. Look for this story and online edition on January 6. A Step ahead will provide a link to the story from our web site.

Peer Visitor Training Seminar
Saturday, February 23, 2007

North Shore LIJ
Glen Cove Hospital
101 St. Andrews Lane
Glen Cove, New York

A Step Ahead Prosthetics will be hosting an Amputee Coalition of America CA certified peer visitor training seminar on Saturday February 23 at Glen Cove Hospital. The peer visitor training program is a nationwide program developed and coordinated by the Amputee Coalition of America (ACA).
 
A peer visitor is someone who has experienced a life changing event (limb loss or congenital deficiency). In addition they are living a full and productive life, and has completed a training program preparing them to visit another individual and his/her family facing a similar experience. A Peer Visitor volunteers to:

• Serve as a role model
• Offer emotional support
• Provide information about the resources available locally and nationally

Peer visitors are sensitive listeners who will use their developed skills in communication
to facilitate the new amputee’s own recovery and self-exploration so that they may make good decisions for themselves.

The trainer for this seminar is Charlie Steele. For more information about attending and registering for this training program and becoming a certified peer visitor, contact  Susan Tipton, National Peer Network Coordinator to register for this training seminar at the ACA office at 888-267-5669. Registration deadline is February 15.

Joe Birchwale ready for skiing

Staying Active with Winter Sports

Skiing, snow boarding and ice skating are fun winter sports. At A Step Ahead we can custom align your prosthesis so you can enjoy these activities safely. In addition to alignment, we custom fabricate knee orthoses and stump helmets to protect your residual limb. Knee braces are essential for below the knee amputees who ski. While skiing, your knee will be subjected to side to side forces that will place excessive strain on your knee joint. A custom brace can be fabricated to attach to your prosthesis and will provide improved side to side stability reducing the risk of injury to your knee.

Custom knee brace & prosthesis for skiing

Amputee Support Groups

The next ASPIRE support group meeting will be held on Wednesday January 30 at 6:15 pm at the Hospital for Special Surgery located at 535 East 70th Street, NY.  For more information about the ASPIRE support group contact Charlie Steele at charlieatl@aol.com or (212) 877-7050

The Columbia Presbyterian Hospital amputee support group meets at the Hoyt Board Room Children’s Hospital room 121 north. For more information contact M. Stern at 212-305-9917
 
The Long Island amputee support group meets the first Saturday of each month at South Side Hospital, 301 East Main Street in Bayshore. If you are interested in joining this group contact Jodi Adler at 631-968-3330.

Seasonal Changes Affect Prosthetic Fit

We all know what is like to eat and drink more during the holiday time. It is hard to resist all the parties and the extra food that comes with them. Be aware that with this extra intake of food and drink you may develop significant weight gain.

When your body weight changes or fluctuates, you will notice that your prosthetic socket may not feel right or fit correctly. You may notice pressure areas and discomfort in specific locations on your residual limb. With minor and gradual changes in weight (maximum 3-5 lbs) your prosthetist can make changes to the prosthetic socket to accommodate for these changes. If your body weight changes drastically or quickly either up or down your prosthetist may need to completely fabricate an entirely new prosthetic socket.

If you notice that you are not fitting properly in your prosthesis, or there is discomfort ands areas of pressure contact your prosthetist. If you wait too long to address the issue of weight changes with a prosthetic socket that is not fitting well, you will potentially have to  have major changes made which will be time consuming and potentially costly.

The keys to maintaining a healthy body weight are a well balanced diet and an active lifestyle. The level of exercise and activity will vary greatly for each person. What ever level of activity you choose, it is essential that you remain active and closely monitor any body weight changes and report them to your prosthetist.

Virtual Consultations

A Step Ahead now offers the ability to do live video consultations with our prosthetists and perspective patients around the world.  Through the use of this technology we can demonstrate prosthetic design and components using photographs and direct visualization. Using any computer with high speed internet access will allow you the ability to take advantage of this very convenient, cost effective technology.  In addition, this allows us to more accurately assess a new patient before they travel to our facility in New York. For more information and details about how to set up a virtual consultation, contact our office or go to the following page at the A Step Ahead web site:   http://www.astepaheadonline.com/video_consult.html

Team A Step Ahead is very excited about the 2008 athletic season. To recap some of the accomplishments of 2007:

The largest participation of amputee runners at the ASPIRE 10K race

2 Ironman finishes for Kelly Bruno with the fastest time for female amputees
 
10th Ironman finish and a first place for Paul Martin at the World Triathlon Championships.
9 finishers at the New York City triathlon including first place in all 4 lower extremity amputee categories

Bronze medal for Michael Foresto at the US national track cycling championships.

2 world best road race times for Amy Palmiero-Winters at the ½ Marathon (1:25) and the 10K (38:18)

New America record in the marathon by Tommy Koehler (3:08:21)

20th place overall at the Ocean to Sound 50 mile relay out of 87 teams.       

Many other team A Step Ahead athletes achieved personal bests and major accomplishments in 2007.  In 2008 we are projecting the following events Team A Step Ahead members will be part of:  ASPIRE 10K race April 5, New York City Triathlon July 19, World Triathlon Vancouver B.C., Ocean to Sound Relay September 7, Westchester Triathlon September, CAF Triathlon San Diego California October, Cross country Championships Long Island October 5, Track meet Long Island June 15

Beginning in 2008 we are also going to build a mentoring program for the Junior Team A Step Ahead athletes. This program would
This program would match junior athletes with adult TASA athletes. The adult athletes will be assisting the junior athletes in their preparation and participation in Junior Team ASA events.  This mentoring can be done by meeting with the junior athlete, phone or email communication and coaching them in selected events. These events will include: Disabled Ski program in Pennsylvania, ASPIRE Children’s ½ mile run, The Empire State Games, amputee track and field meet and indoor rock climbing

The goal for Team A Step Ahead is to continue to show the world that despite the odds anyone can live life without limitations.. We look forward to another exciting year in 2008.

Mobility Clinic

Even in the cold winter months the monthly Mobility Clinics continue. Dave Balsley, P.T. and Phil Kreuter, P.T. will be at the Jericho High School track on Long Island for their monthly mobility clinic at 10 am on Sunday January 13. 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 and learn from experienced coaches and physical therapists. The setting is relaxed and enjoyable. There is no pressure, come 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.

Tips for the Winter Months

To get a better grip on the ice and snow, we recommend ice traction slip-ons, which attach to the bottom of your shoe or boot to improve traction in winter conditions.

For C-leg users. There is a new cordless rechargeable power supply that you can use for travel. The Black & Decker Power to Go   

The Power to Go powers & recharges personal electronics, supplies portable AC & USB power to mobile electronics. No adapters needed, plug your charger in and power on the go. It provides up to 9 hours of extended runtime. For more information on this product, click HERE.