Here are the responses I got to the question about the bellacure brace.
I realized after I posted that many people would be at the meeting in Chicago, so if anyone has had experience with it, I would like to hear about it.
Nathan Keepers, CPO
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Besides the website for the Bellacure OA Brace, what insights do you
have
regarding this brace? The brace reportedly worn by Barry Bonds in a
recent
Post.
>
I believe Mr Barocos may be retired from his LO but he is now a sales
rep or some form of marketing person for the Bellacure “device”. Their
website asks how you were referred to their site and one of the
possible referral source options is Charles Borocos. I think he has become an
advertisement on the list serve for Bellacure in disguise. I thought
these messages wear not supposed to be about self promotion and
advertising. Just a warning.
Nathan,
Thank you for the inquiry. Every since Mr. Bonds started making
statements
to the press, this product has taken a direction that has been surreal
to
say the least.
Quote;
Bonds was more positive about his health in the MLB.com report, raving
about
a new knee brace.
“Right now, I feel like I can play for another five years, another 10
years,” he said. “It’s given me a new lease on life. That’s how I’m
feeling
today. I’m ready to get going.”
The Bellacure OA Treatment Device only weighs about 14 ounces. It
provides
up to 150lbs of torsional decompression for the affected compartment,
far
exceeding anything available on the market today that we are aware of.
The
Bellacure TD was developed with the input of 200 orthotist that were
kind
enough to answer survey questions and take phone calls. Lightweight,
ease of
use, bio-conformity, and textile design were all aspects of engineering
that
the orthotist facilitated our efforts with. (It should also be noted
that
Darrin Poidevin CPO. has been one of the best sounding boards and
friends
that I have ever had. His input was fantastic.)
Here are a few points that may shed some light on what the device
offers.
Guaranteed pain relief, or your money back
Independent quad-strand micro cabling dosimeter enables patient contour
limb
matching capability out of the box
60% stretch textile garment structure with the cabling device
guarantees no
slippage or rotation.
I hope this sheds a little light on the subject. Please feel free to
call me
or e-mail me with any further questions.
Respectfully,
Mike Cannon
Executive V.P.
Dir. Sales and Marketing
Bellacure, Inc.
210-279-4122 Cell
Being unfamiliar with this device, I studied the manufacturer web site and other interesting links on my AOL search engine. I like the one on OANDP-L Archives Dec.’05 by Charles Barocas, CO (R). ‘He’s retired to “Walmart employment” due to his perspective that C/POs are becoming more and more obsolete.’ He may have lost a thriving OA market nitch to this Bellacure device, and as all of us have experienced has been discouraged by the non certified encroachment into our field. This is where we have to be resilient with our diverse capabilities to provide a vast array of custom P&O devices and services. The bELLACURE IS REALLY ONLY A SOFT GOOD DEVICE, and is limited in it’s capability. It will migrate; it will stretch; it will accumulate heat, sweat and grime; it’ll come unravled… I believe that good Orthopedists and Physiatrists will see the enduring need for good rigid custom OA bracing.
Bellacore’s baloon will eventually pop. Wallmart may gain the Bellacure, but there is consolation to be taken. If it’s not already made in China, it has yet to be available at the dollar stores, thus nixing even some MDs, CO, BOCOs… and Walmarts market! We all are free to vote with our dollars…
Unlike some things, this ones not a keeper.
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