Feature
Liner Choices Create Comfort
By Miki Fairley
Comfort and more control can equal more mobility and confidence for lower-limb amputees.
More...
Feature
Prosthetist Inventor Seeks Solutions
By Miki Fairley
Stan Patterson, CP, of Prosthetic & OrthoticAssociates, Orlando, Florida, loves a challengeto see a problem andinvent a solution. In fact, besides his clinical practice,Patterson and two partners operate Conundrum Research Labs inOrlando, in which...
More...
Feature
To Sock or Not To Sock?
By Raymond Francis, CP
Is applying sock after sock after sock really the best way of adapting to volume change?
More...
Global View
Amputee Walks Over 1,500 Miles in US for Positive Message
Julio Montoya, whose right leg was amputated below the knee dueto a landmine explosion in the jungles of Peru, could be called a"walking machine." Instead of overwhelming him, this personal tragedy made himdecide to begin walking journeys with fiv...
More...
Salute
Cousin Doesn’t Give Up; Finds Help for Amputee
By Jodi Mills
Whatever your connection with the field of O&P,you are bound to come across many people that inspire you and touchyour heart. Recently such a person and her family crossed our pathhere at The O&P EDGE . Her story isnt necessarily outof the ordinar...
More...
Salute
Acts of Kindness Lead to Hope and Help
By Meredy Fullen
A brief history of the Barr Foundation.
More...
Global View
Project Hope Belize—A Dream Realized
By Robbie Jackson
"The 'spirit of the start' is the most marvelousmoment at any time for anything, because in the START lies the seedfor all things that must follow." - Louis Khan,architect Belize, Central America, 2004 Anyone who has ever attempted to start from...
More...
Sports
Amputee Bicycling: Great for Body and Mind
By Bruce Hibbett
Many new amputees are under the mistaken impressionthat the loss of their limb means the loss of mobility and asedentary lifestyle. However, statistics show that most amputeesare able to return to a level of activity they had before theamputation...
More...
Sports
Latvia Forms Amputee Ice Hockey Team
Latvia may soon have its own national standing amputee icehockey team after a recent demonstration of the international teamplaying against Latvia's professional Zemgale team. The event wasthe first of its kind in Latvia and signals another step c...
More...
Got FAQs?
By Lisa Lake-Salmon
The future of your practice depends onknowledgeable billing and collection information. Understanding thefull aspect of billing guidelines and procedures will effectivelyincrease your reimbursement. This informative column will helpproviders and t...
More...
Association Spotlight
PFA Symposium Presents High-Quality Sessions
By Miki Fairley
Fighting sultry heat, humidity, fierce wind andrain, dodging hostile vegetation and poisonous snakes, pullingdozens of bloodsucking leeches off arms and legs, rappelling downsteep cliffs, climbing up mountainsides, crossing deep canyonshanging on...
More...
Association Spotlight
AOPA Releases Latest Statistics
The American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association (AOPA) hasreleased the latest O&P industry statistics in the 2004 AOPA Operating Performance and Compensation (OPC) Report ,giving O&P facilities new benchmarks for evaluating andidentifying opportuni...
More...
Association Spotlight
TSA To Retrain Airport Screeners
To help insure safe and comfortable travel for persons with limbloss, the ACA has been working closely with the TransportationSecurity Administration (TSA) to establish new screening guidelinesand standards that protect and respect the rights of a...
More...
Profile
Billinda Newton, RTP
Billinda Newton, RTP Faith P&O Services Inc. Concord, North Carolina What is the best advice you've everreceived? "Your past is not your destiny." What do you like best aboutO&P?
More...
Perspective
How Do We Turn the Tide in O&P Research and Education?
By Christopher F. Hovorka, MS, CPO
As a student of orthotics and prosthetics(O&P) in the late 1980s and early 1990s, it became readilyapparent to me that there was a stark limitation in the researchbase. Only a paucity of evidence supported the orthosis/prosthesisdesigns and patien...
More...
Viewpoints
From the Editor: Giving to Others Brings Joy
By Miki Fairley
More...

CPI's new Adjustable Stride
Control allows prosthetists to customize an individuals
gait without the need to change soft components. The Stride
Control adjuster, located on the back of the foreheel,
determines preload on the bumpers. Convenient adjustment, from the
top or the side, increases or decreases resistance.
Key benefits of the Adjustable Stride
Control:
- Adjustment of plantar and dorsiflexion resistance
- Fine-tunes the feel of the foot without having to change
bumpers
- Available on TruPer®, VentureTM and
TributeTM feet

Align perfectly the first time, and every time,
with College Park Industries' Adjustable Stride Control.
For more information, contact:
College Park Industries
800.728.7950
www.college-park.com

Ongoing Care Solutions offers a complete line of
orthotics, including theWEL-KARETM AFO
at $33.95 each!
The WEL-KARE Ankle Foot Orthosis is a flexible,
economical method to control plantar- flexion contractures, address
hip rotation and protect the heel. The patented design of the
WEL-KARE AFO suspends the heel which eliminates
pressure. The adjustable dorsiflexion assist straps allow for the
treatment of plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis. The
WEL-KARE AFO features our Microbe Shield
Protection Program (MSPP) which consists of Kool-WickTM,
to wick away moisture from the skin and Bacti-BanTM with
built in antimicrobial action. Included are the padded rotator bar,
adjustable, padded toe post and toe wedge.
For more information, contact:
Ongoing Care Solutions
800.375.0207
www.ongoingcare.com
LIVINGSKIN prostheses are individually
made to recreate the color, shape, and size of an amputees missing
finger, hand, arm, toe, foot, leg, or facial feature.

At our Premier Service Centers in Atlanta,
Chicago, New York, or Toronto, clients can sit with artists while
having their high-definition, custom silicone prostheses painted.
Of course, our artists will still paint from photographs, if travel
is not feasible.
LIVINGSKIN prostheses look so real
that many clients tell us they actually use them more than any
other prostheses they have ever worn.
For more information, contact:
LIVINGSKIN
800.208.SKIN(7546)
www.LIVINGSKIN.com

SPS is pleased to share with its customers the
following excerpt from the formal decision on the coding of the
ALPS Thermoliner®Custom
Liner:
The Thermoliner Custom Locking Liner (Model
TFDT) and Thermoliner Custom Cushion Liner (Model
TFFR) meet the description for an HCPCS code as assigned in the
DMERC Medical Policy for Surgical Dressings. Therefore, the correct
Medicare billing code(s) for the product(s) is/are
L5681 Addition to lower extremity, below knee/above knee, custom
fabricated socket insert for congenital or atypical traumatic
amputee, silicone gel, elastomeric or equal, for use with or
without locking mechanism, initial only (for other than initial,
use code L5673 or L5679). OR L5683 Addition to lower extremity,
below knee/above knee, custom fabricated socket insert for other
than congenital or atypical traumatic amputee, silicone gel,
elastomeric or equal, for use with or without locking mechanism,
initial only (for other than initial, use code L5673 or L5679).
For more information, contact;
SPS
800.767.7776
www.spsco.com

SPS is pleased to announce the exclusive
availability of the new Medipro® RELAX
Liner, the first liner designed to reduce phantom pain and
sensations.
The research team at Medipro found that electromagnetic
waveforms can cause a static electric charge to develop in the
socket of a prosthesis, which can stimulate the nerve endings on
the residual limb. Based upon this finding, Medipro developed a new
cover material called Umbrellan® which shields the residual
limb by arresting transmission of the phantom pain or sensation to
the receptors and neurons in the cortex of the brain.
The cover is adhered to a proprietary blend of silicone gel,
formulated specifically for the needs of those with particularly
sensitive skin, including diabetics. Medipros researchers also
incorporated a custom matrix that envelops the soft tissues of the
distal end, preventing mechanical irritation.
For more information, contact;
SPS
800.767.7776
www.spsco.com

Heralding the launch of ESPs new
FlexiSportTM and
FlexiKidsTM, SPS announces an
ADDITIONAL 10% off introductory offer on all SPS purchases from the
FlexiSleeve family of suspension sleeves from
January 15, 2005 through March 15, 2005.
The ESP FlexiSleeve family is pre-flexed to 43
degrees for maximum comfort and freedom of movement. The pre-flexed
design diminishes pressure exerted by the socket trimline on the
inside of the sleeve, reducing potential breakdown. Fabricated from
the highest quality neoprene, all latex has been removed to reduce
skin irritation and the sleeves are coated to prevent cracking and
pealing.
FlexiSleeve, FlexiSport, and
FlexiKids are all value priced and guaranteed for
3 months. Manufacturer recommends L-5675 for reimbursement of the
FlexiSleeve and FlexiSport and
L-5674 for reimbursement of the FlexiKids.
For more information, contact;
SPS
800.767.7776
www.spsco.com

SPS has two versions of the
Alpha® MAX Liner on the shelves
and ready to fly out the door at all three SPS warehouses -
Atlanta, Dallas, or Paso Robles.
The Alpha MAX incorporates the same
skin-friendly thermoplastic gel with mineral oil and vitamin E that
amputees and practitioners have come to depend upon in all other
Alpha liners. The major difference in the
Alpha® MAX lies in the fabric
covering.
The Alpha MAX incorporates a custom fabric that
has conclusively demonstrated three times greater abrasion
resistance and the Stabilizing Strip reduces movement & gel
delamination.
The Alpha® MAX is the perfect
interface solution for highly active patients, requiring extremely
durable liners.
For more information, contact;
SPS
800.767.7776
www.spsco.com

PEL Supply now stocks all Ohio Willow Wood
ImpulseTM Ankles, including two new
versions: one with an aluminum base for amputees weighing up to 270
pounds/122 kg; and one with a titanium base, for amputees weighing
up to 350 pounds/160 kg (300 pounds/136 kg for CMH Level 4).
The new Impulse Ankles unique material
combination lends to enhanced performance - particularly for more
active amputees. The titanium pyramid makes the
Impulse strong and durable, while an aluminum base
makes it light and easy to move with. A rubber molding process
provides a smoother more cushioned stop.
The Impulse Ankle functions very well with the
energy-storing Impulse Foot, also available from PEL Supply for
immediate shipment.
For more information, contact:
PEL Supply
800.321.1264
www.pelsupply.com

New Stay-DryTM
XeroSoxTM waterproof leg and arm sleeves,
manufactured by Xero Products, are now available from PEL Supply.
The affordably priced XeroSox sleeve, once pulled
over a cast, prosthesis, or bandage, can be sealed by the wearer by
its patented vacuum seal, producing a fit that absolutely will not
slip off or leak.
Patients can take a warm, relaxing bath or shower, swim in the
ocean, slip down a water slide, or dive into a swimming poolall
with complete confidence. For injuries treated with soft casts or
bandages that require hydrotherapy, the Stay Dry
XeroSox can be used to waterproof the injury to expedite
the healing process.
For more information, contact:
PEL Supply
800.321.1264
www.pelsupply.com

Ohio Willow Wood's new G-Lock has
a one-way expulsion valve to provide suction suspension and a
standard pin locking mechanism with pin seal. This unique dual
design gives amputees security from a pin while minimizing
pistoning through suction.
The G-Lock is CAD-friendly yet also easy to
work with in traditional fabrication processes. For use in
laminated or thermoplastic sockets, the G-Lock
allows for one-step lamination and has a four-hole pattern for
socket attachment. It comes standard with two 38mm pins. Weight
limit is 250 lbs. (115kg).
For more information, contact:
Ohio Willow Wood
800.848.4930
www.owwco.com

Ohio Willow Wood's Alpha DESIGN
Liners can be easily created through the use of
OMEGATM Tracer 7.0 CAD system or from plaster casts.
After capturing the limb shape, practitioners determine how much
elastomer gel to apply throughout the liner and where.
Alpha DESIGN Liners allow prosthetists to add up
to 12mm of gel where needed; thin gel down to 2mm behind the knee;
and apply up to 15mm of gel over indentations on the limb.
Prosthetists can also choose the fabric style and color of the
Alpha DESIGN Liner, which ships in 48 hours of
order receipt.
For more information, contact:
Ohio Willow Wood
800.848.4930
www.owwco.com

OPTEC Inc. presents Mini-TLC hip management system
with the Pediatric THC Hip Joint which limits unwanted motion and
reduces hip stress. The Mini-TLC provides controlled positioning
and alignment and can be worn pre- or post-op to stabilize and
maintain proper hip alignment.
Mini-TLC features:
- Universal components
- Comfortable liner pads
- Washable, breathable liner pads
- Bilateral thigh cuffs
- Colorful liners
- Four sizes
Pediatric THC Hip Joint features infinite abduction-adduction
adjustment and a unique release-lock system for flexion-extension
ROM control. Indications for the new Mini-TLC include hip
alignment, hip subluxation or dislocation, sitting and standing
posture assistance issues, and stabilization pre- or post-op.

For more information, contact:
OPTEC Inc.
888.982.8181
www.opteccorp.com

Adjustability is the key and the
Guardian is chock full of it. A universal, right
or left pelvic band is set up to accept all joint sizes and thread
designs. The anterior strap is easily interchangeable to provide a
left or right hand pull. The strap also includes a quick connect
buckle for one time adjustments. The Guardian also
offers the only anterior tongue on the market that can be "locked"
to eliminate potential rotation or be left as a "smooth" overlap.
The thigh cuff includes all of the pelvic band features, is fully
adjustable, and is the only cuff on the market that can be adjusted
to include medial condyle support. Combined with the Hip Bolt or
the Hip Tracker hip hinge, the Guardian is the
ultimate, fully functional hip control system.
For more information, contact:
Spinal Solutions, Inc.
800.922.5155
www.spinalsolution.net

Bolt Systems announces the introduction of the new
Lil Hip Hugger pediatric hip brace. This new hip
brace allows for a controlled range of motion while maintaining
proper support and positioning of the hips.
The Lil Hip Hugger brace was designed to
maximize comfort and function during daily activities.
For more information, contact:
Bolt Systems, Inc.
800.425.0012
www.boltsystems.com

You asked for quality for less money and DMP-Ortho
heard you loud and clear!
DMP-Ortho announces the release of its "new" ROM Elbow
Joints starting at $18.95. Each joint comes with
DMP-Orthos exclusive "ROM Inhibitor Technology" allowing for
customizable locking at 5-degree increments to achieve perfect fit,
each and every time.
ROM Elbow Joint options include:
- double slots in arms
- no slots in arms
- clear or black anodization
- mounting hardware kits
For more information, contact:
DMP-Ortho
800.352.1011
www.dmp-ortho.com