Feature
The Near Future of O&P
By Morgan Stanfield
"The single-most important thing to understand when we talk about the future of O&P is that clinicians need to stop seeing ourselves as giving people new limbs or braces; what we provide in reality is maximized function." -Dennis Clark, CPO Th...
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Feature
Young Turks: Where Are They Now?
By Miki Fairley
In December 2002, The O&P EDGE published an article about a few of the up-and-comers in the orthotics and prosthetics profession ("The Young Turks: How Are They Impacting O&P?" The O&P EDGE, www.oandp.com/articles/2002-12_02.asp ). As The O&P EDG...
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Feature
O&P 101: A Crash Course
By Laura Fonda Hochnadel
What associations serve the O&P profession, what do they do, and what does it mean for you? Quick question: If you were in an elevator talking to a recent O&P graduate who wanted to know the best way to impact policy at the national level, what wo...
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Perspective
Setting a New Standard
By David McGill
Over the last 40 years, the percentage of total healthcare spending as a percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP) has nearly tripled. In addition, a short-term spending spike will result from healthcare reform, with the Congressional Budget...
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Stepping Out
Considerations for Wound Healing
By Séamus Kennedy, BEng (Mech), CPed
Many O&P practitioners are directly involved in multi-specialty teams at wound care centers and diabetic clinics. Healing chronic wounds takes time, patience, skill, and a good deal of cooperation. The patients often present with complicating medi...
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Shop Talk
Fabricating Pediatric Orthoses: More than just Smaller Orthoses
By Tony Wickman, CTPO
I'm not a people person. I've always preferred the quiet companionship of a room full of tools, but children are another story. During my brief stint as a clinician, I enjoyed the diagnostics, the design, and even the interaction with other medica...
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Today’s Consumer
Carl Wardell: Living Life in Stride
By Laura Fonda Hochnadel
Photograph courtesy of Össur Americas. People have their own yardsticks for measuring milestones: completing a 5K, exceeding a sales goal, landing a whopper of a fish. Carl Wardell, 35, a left transfemoral amputee, experienced a milestone this pas...
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Looking Back, Looking Ahead
Our Changing Profession
In honor of our tenth anniversary, we are pleased to present Looking Back, Looking Ahead, a celebration of the past, the present, and the future—not only for The O&P EDGE, but also for a profession that is constantly evolving in response to an eve...
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Face to Face
Face to Face: Ulrike Entwistle, CFm, Juzo-Certified Fitter
A desire to help other breast cancer survivors was the guiding force that led Ulrike Entwistle to find her niche as a certified mastectomy fitter and Juzo fitter, and eventually open Heart Strings Breast Care & Women's Boutique, New Smyrna Beach,...
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Got FAQs?
Billing and Collections Q&A
By Lisa Lake-Salmon
Denials are difficult to identify and time-consuming to appeal. If you have a billing question or a question about a denial, "Got FAQs?" can help you sift through the confusion and get you the answers you need. This month's column addresses your q...
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Viewpoint
Are You Ready for a Party? We Are!
By Tonja Randolph
Ten years ago this month, Western Media LLC became an entity within the state of Colorado. Within four months, we launched the premier issue of The O&P EDGE at the Academy meeting in Orlando, Florida. We look forward to celebrating our anniversary...
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Online Exclusive
Evolution Industries’ Custom Origin Silicone Liners
EDGE Direct The Origin line of silicone liners features a unique, silken surface that increases durability and allows the liner to slide on itself making donning and doffing a one-step process. Made from a medical-grade silicone formula develope...
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Online Exclusive
Our Changing Profession
For the January issue of The O&P EDGE , we asked The O&P EDGE Editorial Advisory Board members the following question: What is the single most significant change you have seen in the O&P industry over the last ten years? Their responses provide...
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Every ToeOFF® and BlueRocker™ should have a soft interface between the orthosis and tibial crest. We now offer a beige Soft KIT™ to match perfectly with the ivory-colored ToeOFF Fantasy. The kit includes pre-cut, pressure-sensitive MikroFIX tabs to easily affix the pad to the orthosis. The system also includes two narrow neoprene pads to create a pressure-free channel to help relieve any potential discomfort from bony prominences. Each Soft KIT comes with an extra pad so that one can be worn while the other is being laundered.
Allard USA
888.678.6548
www.allardusa.com
At the hospital, clinic, home, or office—evaluate your foot drop patients on the spot for a WalkOn ® AFO, with either the 28T1N WalkOn Fit Kit or the 28T2 WalkOn Flex Fit Kit.
Each kit comes in a handy carrying bag and contains four WalkOns (two small, L&R; two medium, L&R; plus four calf pads). With the smaller footplates, there's no need for grinding to get them into the shoe. Get an instant check of the WalkOn function—and then take the order for a fit.
Otto Bock HealthCare
800.328.4058
www.ottobockus.com
SYMBIONIC LEG is the first commercially available, complete bionic leg that combines a microprocessor knee and a powered, microprocessor ankle. It provides unmatched toe clearance for enhanced safety and enables transfemoral amputees to stably and confidently traverse terrain they might otherwise avoid, without the gait deviations commonly seen in MPK users. SYMBIONIC LEG is insurance billable using existing, approved L-Codes and, when used with RHEOLOGIC Workbench software, offers the ability to document actual user cadence variation to reduce insurance reimbursement risk. SYMBIONIC LEG is the newest addition to the industry-leading Bionic Technology by Össur platform.
Össur Americas
800.233.6263
www.ossur.com
Becker Oregon's CRO Walker is a neuropathic healing boot designed to offer maximum flexibility and patient comfort, as well as ease of maintenance for the attending practitioner. The orthosis consists of a custom-molded clamshell design in your choice of composites or thermoplastics, with a removable, self-molding plantar liner and sub-liner available in 5mm and 10mm Plastazote® or Aliplast®. Removable, interchangeable liners allow for swelling and edema issues and assist in cleaning and replacement.
Becker Oregon
800.866.7522
www.beckerorthopedic.com
Designed to provide clinicians versatility when creating a prosthesis, WillowWood's Rotating Slide Adapter provides the adjustability to slide a foot either medial/lateral or anterior/ posterior. The Rotating Slide Adapter provides up to a half-inch of slide capability and 360 degrees of rotation. The aluminum adapter has a stainlesssteel pyramid and a maximum weight limit of 250 pounds.
For heavy-duty applications, the Magnum Rotating Slide Adapter is available. This titanium adapter has the same features as the aluminum version but carries a maximum weight limit of 350 pounds. The adapters have a one-year warranty.
WillowWood
800.848.4930
www.willowoodco.com
Orthomerica® Products is pleased to introduce the new Spectrum™ Slim™, a valuable addition to our latest Spectrum AFO product line. This slimmer and sleeker eye-catching gauntlet is designed to allow your patients a greater range of shoe options. The Spectrum Slim is ideal for patients who find standard gauntlets a challenge to get into a shoe. Its lowprofile design makes donning and doffing much easier for the patient, and its soft leather off ers maximum comfort. The Spectrum Slim is available in black or tan leather, and black or white synthetic material.
Orthomerica
877.737.8444
www.orthomerica.com
When ordinary socks just won't do...get TuffToe® socks from Rx Textiles. Featuring a gel-reinforced distal hole, TuffToe socks fill the space between the liner and the socket when volume changes occur throughout the day. They are thinner at the distal end so that more socks can be added without the limb being pushed out of the socket.
Features and benefits include:
- Reinforced distal end.
- Volume control.
- Super-soft elastic material.
- AK and BK sizes.
Ask PEL for a free sample.
PEL Supply Company
800.321.1264
www.pelsupply.com
VertaMax is designed and manufactured using dense elastic material that provides signifi cantly more compression than those conventionally used for lumbar supports. VertaMax provides unparalleled anteriorposterior support, abdominal support, perfect anatomic fit, ease of donning and doffing, and soft comfort. Abdominal compression can be increased or decreased with the fastening tabs. The adjustable anterior and posterior plastic panels contour and conform to patients of all shapes, sizes, and lordotic curves with no heat molding necessary. Your patients will appreciate the streamlined design, which is virtually undetectable under clothing.
Contact Optec USA for all your bracing needs.
OPTEC
888.982.8181
www.optecusa.com
Delivering a lower profile, the Velocity™ foot's coupled toe springs work together to provide a progressively smooth rollover. It combines high functionality and no maintenance with easy heel-adjustment capabilities for fine-tuning.
Key features include:
- Smooth control from heel strike to toe off, throughout stance phase.
- Highly sophisticated dynamic response.
- Maintenance-free design.
- Precision gait matched for outof-the-box performance.
- Weight limit up to 125kg (275 lb.); three-year warranty.
- Same-day, custom built to order.
College Park Industries
800.728.7950
www.college-park.com
Featuring a Newly Enhanced Slip-Resistant Interface.
The Pacific™ Adjustable Collar has been enhanced to provide patients with effective control of cervical spine motion. The collar now features a slip-resistant interface to achieve increased security while also ensuring optimal alignment.
Features include:
- New, slip-resistant interface ensures optimal alignment and increased security.
- Thick, open-cell foam liners provide comfort, breathability.
- Low-density polyethylene shells provide stability, flexibility.
- Accommodates all your adult patients in two adjustable sizes.
- New, reduced price.
Becker Orthopedic
800.521.2192
www.beckerorthopedic.com
The Mt. Emey® Medical Collection of shoes from Apis Footwear is designed for hard-to-fit feet or feet with larger orthotics needs. The Medical Colletion offers a variety of closures for ease-of-fit adjustability. These shoes will accommodate mild or severe foot deformities related to conditions such as edema, Charcot, bunions, and rheumatoid arthritis, and are in stock for on-time delivery.
Whether you need to order custom orthotics only or from the large selection of Apis shoes, we offer great package deals. Call our friendly customer service representatives for more details.
Apis Footwear Co.
888.937.2747
www.bignwideshoes.com
Take advantage of this new fabrication service from Otto Bock HealthCare. Our unique coating technology makes it possible to print an almost seamless decor on complex shapes of prostheses, orthoses, and more! And with 30 different designs to choose from, your patients will be sure to find something they like. Contact Otto Bock Fabrication Services at 800.795.8846 for color specifications and to order.
Otto Bock HealthCare
800.328.4058
www.ottobockus.com
Complete with EXOS low-temperature, easily formable laminate and a high-performance BOA® cable-closure system, the PROCUFF is highly adjustable, very comfortable, but most of all, exceptionally versatile in creating solutions for these challenging cases.
Now activity-specific prostheses are EASY! The system comes with a stainlesssteel disconnect TD bracket system with multiple mounting options to optimize terminal-device placement to customize to your patient's needs.
Perfect for golf, kayaking, weight training, swimming, and more!
TRS Inc.
800.279.1865
www.oandp.com/trs/
Galaxy LSO LP is part of OPTEC USA's newest line of spinal braces. The brace features our patented CROSSOVER closure system, as well as durable, polyurethane panels with a comfortable, removable liner. The Galaxy's anterior opening provides easy donning and doffing, and the adjustable strap length ensures a comfortable fit for your patients.
OPTEC's Galaxy LSO LP is approved by PDAC for L-0627 coding.
Contact Optec USA for all your bracing needs, or visit our website.
OPTEC
888.982.8181
www.optecusa.com
The Pyramid PYR-SL-R-TI is the newest addition to Prosthetic Design's Pyramid line. It features a 12.7mm (1/2) slide off center, with closed ends on the base and offers 360 degrees of rotation, and a low, 16.25mm profile. The PYR-SL-R-TI is manufactured of titanium and is compatible with the European 4-hole pattern. The rotation is locked into place by tightening the 4 adjustment set screws on the interfacing component, similar to PDI's PR-SL-R-TI. Rotation is positively controlled in 3 degree increments with the use of interfacing radial serrations. The slide is locked at the same time the 4 adjustment set screws of the interfacing component are tightened.
Prosthetic Design Inc.
800.459.0177
www.prostheticdesign.com
Comfort Products offers six different styles of diabetic socks. Each style is designed to offer significant benefits for the particular needs of every diabetic patient. We were the first company to offer a seamless diabetic sock. With three different adult sizes, along with a wide range of fashionable colors in all styles, you can be assured of a perfect solution for every diabetic patient.
- Traditional Diabetic Socks.
- Seamfree™ Diabetic Socks.
- Seamfree X-Tra™ Diabetic Socks.
- Seamfree Silver™ Diabetic Socks.
- Double Lay-R™ Diabetic Socks.
- Healthy Soles™ Diabetic Socks.
Comfort Products
800.822.7500
www.comfortoandp.com
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