March Newsletter Vol. 5 Issue 3 Ski Trip Junior Team A Step Ahead athletes Jake Lillis (Bilateral AK) Ben Feinstein (Bilateral BK), Alexandra Capellini (AK) and James Lozano (bilateral BK) all attended a 5 day ski camp at Camelback Mountain in Pennsylvania during the first week of February.
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Jake Lillis
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James Lozano
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They were accompanied at the ski camp by Amy Palmiero-Winters and Craig Pratka. Craig also tried snowboarding which is an extremely challenging sport for an above the knee amputee. The ski camp was hosted by the Pennsylvania Center for Adapted sports and organized by Isabel Bohn. Everyone had a great time learning how to ski, meeting new friends, swimming, and enjoying being part of a team. While at the ski camp Jake Lillis was featured in an interview on a local NBC affiliate in Pennsylvania describing his first experience skiing. To view the video go to:
http://video.nbc10.com/player/?id=216378
Peer Visitor Training Seminar A Step Ahead Prosthetics hosted an Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) peer visitor training seminar on Saturday, February 23rd at Glen Cove Hospital. The peer visitor training program is a nationwide program developed and coordinated by the ACA. Seven patients and one parent of a patient from A Step Ahead successfully completed the peer visitor training and are now ACA certified peer visitors 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 have completed a training program which prepares 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 and provide information about the resources available locally and nationally to recent amputees.
Racing Chair Donation Jamie and Lynn Parks of Tinley Park, Illinois, winners of one of the 2007 Runners World Heroes of Running award received a new customized racing chair from A Step Ahead. Jamie and Lynn have been racing together since 1991. Jamie started running in 1982 and has run 5847 consecutive days (over 16 years). On February 5 Jamie passed the 25,000 mile mark. Lynn joined him in his running in 1991 after recovering from a serious car accident. They have completed 170 races and have run (as of 1/31/08) 13001.76 miles together. Their best marathon time was in 1996 when they finished in 2:57:07, at the Chicago Marathon, good enough to finish in the top 3% of all finishers. A Discovery Health Channel documentary is being filmed about Jamie & Lynn, which is tentatively titled "Marathon Love.” It will show them training for and running in this year's Boston Marathon on April 21st. It will also include footage of them receiving, tweaking, modifying, training and racing with the new racing wheelchair. A Step Ahead is excited to be able to support Jamie & Lynn in their athletic endeavors. You can read more about Jamie and Lynn at: http://www.lynjame.com/
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Jamie & Lynn Parks | | Custom Racing Chair |
The 31st annual ASPIRE 10 kilometer race will be held on Saturday, April 5 at 9:00 am in Plainview, Long Island. Team A Step Ahead is looking forward to the largest turnout for this annual fundraising event for ASPIRE. This is an annual race that raises money for ASPIRE, a non profit organization that provides financial support to individuals with limb loss who participate in sports and recreational activities. The larger the turn out of amputee runners at this event, the greater potential for increased fundraising for ASPIRE and future events.
We are looking forward to supporting the largest team of amputee athletes in the history of this event. We have received permission from the race directors to allow athletes to run ½ of the course (5 K/3.1 miles) if they are unable to complete the 6.2 miles. In addition there is a ½ mile “fun run” for children under 12 at 8am. You do not have to be a competitive runner to participate in these events. There will be a group of athletes from Team A Step Ahead who will walk the race. The following are course records for the 10K race Brian O’Sullivan (AK) 46:05. Tommy Koehler (BK) 42:21 and Amy Winters (BK) 43:21.
Come out and support the largest team of amputee athletes to run in a New York road race. For more information and how to register for this race as a member of Team A Step Ahead, contact Phil Kreuter at 516-681-3484 or phil@astepaheadonline.com
Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged For all junior athletes the Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged are scheduled for May 29 – May 31. The games are open for ages 5-21. Events include track and field, swimming, table tennis and wheelchair slalom. In addition there are games and prize giveaways. For more information and to receive applications for the games contact our office. You can also find information about the games at: http://www.empirestategames.org/physical/
Junior Team A Step Ahead enjoyed the first experience with rock climbing at Island Rock in Plainview, N.Y. so much that a larger group went climbing on Sunday March 2. Sam Kliewe, Alexandra Capellini, Victoria Cutrone-Foley, Connor Tucciarone, Jake Lillis, Catherine Hughes, Sofia Castillo, Davonni Baboolal and Julia Brietenbach all climbed the big walls at Island Rock. ESPN and News 12 Long Island were on hand to film Junior Team A Step Ahead.
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Junior Team A Step Ahead | | Junior Team A Step Ahead Reaching for New Heights |
Based on his results in 2007 Dr. John Ahrens (BK) of Vineland, New Jersey is ranked 8th in his age group in the Mid- Atlantic region in Duathlon competition by the USA Triathlon. Duathlon competition involves running and cycling in a run-bike-run combination. Congratulations to John on his 2007 race results.
Amputee Support Groups The next ASPIRE support group meeting will be held on Wednesday March 26 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 New York-Presbyterian Hospital Amputee Education and Support Group: Every First Friday of the Month 9-11 AM
Hoyt Board Room Children’s Hospital of New York
Room 121, 3959 Broadway New York, NY 10032.
(Enter on West 167th and Broadway at the glass Energy Court)
Friday, March 7, 2008 Falls Prevention
Speaker: Joan Edelstein, PT
Lecture 9-10 am Support group 10-11 am
For further information and to RSVP, please contact Annette Ward at 212-305-3964 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
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
ABC Certification A Step Ahead Prosthetics received its official ABC (American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics) facility accreditation. The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics is the national certifying and accrediting body for the orthotic and prosthetic professions. Accreditation indicates that the facility has met established standards set by Medicare as well as indicating a high level of dedication and commitment to the profession. For more information on ABC facility accreditation go to: http://www.abcop.org/Facility_Accreditation.asp
Strengthening Exercises Once you receive a lower extremity prosthesis and are able to begin full weight bearing ambulation, closed chain exercises can be incorporated into your exercise programs. The principle behind closed chain exercises is that your muscles perform in a functional way when your foot is on the ground or on a stable surface. When you exercise in this manner all the muscles in your residual limb work together to stabilize you in your prosthetic socket and teach you to contract them during walking and other functional activities. Closed chain exercises, which more closely replicate normal function, provide compression to various joints which help strengthen the surrounding muscles, stabilizing the joint. A closed-chain exercise helps strengthen muscle groups rather than single muscles and helps the muscles to work together. The step up exercise for below the knee and above the knee amputees is a very useful exercise to strengthen muscles in the residual limb and improve functional activities. When stepping up with the prosthetic leg focus on contracting the muscles in the front of the thigh and try to avoid pushing your body up with the non-amputated side. Smaller steps can be used initially as well as wooden blocks or a heavy book that is placed against a stable surface.
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Above Knee Step Ups |
Above knee amputees will step up with the non amputated side. By stepping on the non- amputated side weight is then transferred to the prostethic side. This will help to improve weight shifting, balance and strength in the muscles in the residual limb.
Consult your physician and a physical therapist regarding your readiness for any exercise program as well as details about frequency and intensity of each exercise. For more information on developing an exercise program contact Phil Kreuter, PT at phil@astepaheadonline.com
BREAKING NEWS! A new bill regarding access to prosthetics in New York State was recently introduced. http://www.amputee-coalition.org/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=353&z=18 Senate Bill 1672 and Assembly Bill 1274, the prosthetic parity bills are still in play. They were introduced last year. We are working to develop legislative and alternative strategies to support these efforts. Assembly Bill 4418 was introduced and referred to the Insurance Committee on February 9th. It requires coverage for prosthetic devices when they are damaged or stolen. It also ensures that children with limb loss are able to access the care they need as they grow. Sponsors include Colton, Zebrowski, Powell, John, Pheffer, Rivera J, and Titus. We need your help to keep this bill moving!! Take action! Contact the Insurance Committee! We have included contact information along with a sample phone message and sample e-mail/letter. Please, take action today! If you have five minutes, make a call and send an e-mail to the Chair of the Committee and to Assemblyman Powell: Chairman Joseph Morelle, 518-455-5373 or morellj@assembly.state.ny.us You can also reach out to his district office in Rochester (585-467-0410). Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell, IV is on the committee. He is a co-sponsor of the legislation. You can call or e-mail him to thank him and ask that he push his committee to hold a hearing for this important legislation!
Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell, IV, powella@assembly.state.ny.us or 518-455-4781 ACA Annual Conference The annual Amputee Coalition of America will be held from June 18-21 in Atlanta Georgia. For more information and to register for this informative conference go to the following website: http://www.amputee-coalition.org/annual_meeting_about.html
The 2008 Amputee Coalition of America Youth Camp will be held July 20-24, 2008, at Joy Outdoor Education Center in Clarksville, Ohio. For more information on the ACA youth camp go to:
http://www.amputee-coalition.org/youth_camp.html
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 March 16. 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. ***** | 
