Ability Prosthetics and Orthotics

Throwback: A quick update on Hero Arm patient, Shawn Davis. Due to the on-going Covid-19 pandemic, Shawn had to wait a little bit longer for his custom Deus Ex cover from @openbionics. However, the wait was worth it for how awesome the cover turned out! Shawn is truly turning his limb difference into a superpower. #superpower #Heroarm #abilitypo #limbdifference #customlimb #openbionics #bionicarm

Syracuse University is conducting a study investigating the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on physical activity and mental health among prosthesis users. We are inviting you to participate in a short survey to share your feedback. Responses are confidential and will be used to help develop new ways to provide care under these unique circumstances. If interested, please click the link below or scan the QR Code to complete the survey. https://is.gd/pa_study

Is throwback Tuesday a thing? It is now! We are still admiring this this awesome replacement socket the #wyomissing team did! The patient saw this design on a shirt and loved it! Ossur fabricated the final socket. What design would you put on a custom socket? Tell us in the comments! #socket #custom #teamwork #abilitypo #prosthetics #össur #walkinfaith

Are you familiar with the surgical procedure known as rotationplasty? It's a novel approach to creating a functional human knee joint, from a patient's intact foot and ankle. Mostly performed in children who are facing amputation because of a malignant tumor; growth plate trauma; or congenital anomaly, it results in the individual being able to be fit with a below knee prosthetic design, vs. an above knee design (which can be more difficult to manage). Essentially, the patient's knee is removed, the existing foot and ankle are rotated and then re-connected to the patient's thigh bone to form a joint that can bend and flex. How amazing is that?! #rotationplasty #abilitypo #ossur #technology #enhancelives

Despite the brisk weather, Della Conrad was excited to show off her electric personality with her new prosthesis. Since losing her limb in 2018, Della has been working with Tyler Cook, CPO, to restore and improve her mobility. The first-year post-amputation was challenging due to muscle weakness and debilitating pain, but she worked hard to gain back her strength. Her motivation to keep moving has clearly taken her far, as she demonstrates her speed and stability today. She recently started driving by herself again, and was able to dance at her grandaughter's wedding last month!

A big shoutout to the Hanover office’s patient, Susan, who is taking her first steps with an osseointegration prosthesis. After a long road, Susan got her osseointegration through Johns Hopkins earlier this year. The skilled team of surgeons and physical therapists have been working diligently to ensure Susan’s success, but it is Susan herself that is the most inspirational. Through years of set-backs and complications Susan has taught us a lot about perseverance. We are honored to be a part her team. Way to go, Susan! #osseointegration #ottobock #cleg #abilitypo #perseverence #Johnshopkins #prosthetics #firststeps #OI #ottobocklove #prosthetic #teamwork #abilityprosthetics #team #lifenhanced #obpc

Wishing you and your family a happy, healthy, wonderful holiday. Thank you for another wonderful year.

We love this time lapse of Kris! Check it out!!

This is so inspiring! If you missed Monday's MODIFIED virtual support group, check out what Blake Leeper had to say using the link below! The passcode is 7Yc&ng? https://zoom.us//RKg3BmjPRrD44tF1lEqZb1AMy2l8ajto984PE-GNM

The Asheville team volunteered at MANNA food bank of Asheville. They were able to process the entire lot of bread packaging along with another group and had an incredible time participating! Manna Food Bank typically distributes 70,000 pounds of food daily which has recently increased to over 120,000 pounds of food due to the pandemic. #MANNA typically has 7,000 volunteers annually. This number has dwindled to 4,300 recently due to the pandemic. ... This means need is going up and help has gone down; MANNA is in need of volunteers to work a myriad of positions. Reach out to volunteer here: https://www.mannafoodbank.org/how-you-can-help/volunteer/ MANNA provides over 21 million pounds of food annually and distributes through various partners around Western North Carolina. The Ability Asheville team was grateful to be given this opportunity. #giveback #mannafoodbank #feedasheville #feedamerica #828isgreat #asheville #ashevillenc #community #giveback #giving #reasonfortheseason #volunteer

It's almost Party Time!! You're invited! Click to join our table for the Quinceañera de ROMPer Barreras (Spanish for: Celebrating 15 years of breaking barriers!) https://give.rompglobal.org/team/326312 We are hosting a virtual table for the ROMP Quinceañera. This free event is a great way to learn more about this amazing organization and celebrate all they've done for people with amputation in their first 15 years. The ROMP Quinceañera will be a fun and impactful evening full... of inspiring videos, surprise guests and more! When: Saturday, December 5th at 4pm PST/7pm EST Where: Join us from the comfort of your own home! We will send the Zoom links, you pour the wine. Who: Everyone is welcome! This event is family friendly and we love the idea of having a small gathering to share your love for ROMP with your community. Purchase an event box and enjoy chocolate, wine, and cheese while you watch! Attire: Fiesta Cocktail (from the waist up)! Throw on your best party shirt, cocktail dress, and fun hat - it's a CELEBRATION! Leave the sweats and slippers on because there's no need to leave the house and pour a glass of wine from our partners One Hope Wine. Virtual Tables: Human connection is important to ROMP. We wanted our community to feel close, as if they were actually sharing a table at an event. We will have an optional happy half-hour immediately before the event in which you will be able to visit with your table via Zoom. Can't make it? Feel free to make a direction donation to this page even if you cannot make the event. Questions? Reach out directly to LP [email protected] 303-946-7124

Amazing!! Range of Motion (ROMP) definitely had the virtual party of the year with their Quinceañera de Romper Barreras (Spanish for: Celebrating 15 Years of Breaking Barriers) On Saturday, December 5th at 4pm PST/7pm EST, over 600 people joined this zoom party from the safety and comfort of their home to help raise over $100,000 for mobility! Were you one of them? What was your favorite part?! #ability #ottobock #abilitypo #ROMPglobal #rompquinceanera #party #virtualparty #familyfriendly #staysafe #stayhealthy #mobilityforall

Ability P&O seeks patients to evaluate a novel powered knee ankle foot orthosis In the resumption of its clinical research program, Ability P&O is now recruiting participants for a study to evaluate a powered Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis to help patients with lower extremity weakness and paralysis. This study is available in any of the Ability locations.... The study flyer outlines the purpose and eligibility criteria for interested patients with lower extremity weakness or paralysis. Please review and consider the study opportunity and contact the principal investigator, Brian Kaluf, BSE, CP, FAAOP, with any interest or questions ([email protected], P: 864-420-9962)

At Ability Prosthetics and Orthotics, we are so thankful to all of our incredible patients for their continued trust in us as we continue to navigate 2020. While this has been a challenging year for so many of us, we believe there is much to be thankful for, and we will be closed Wednesday 11/25 at 3pm through Thursday 11/26 and Friday 11/26 in observance of that gratitude.

**Exciting** In the resumption of its clinical research program, Ability P&O is now recruiting participants for a study to evaluate a self-aligning prosthetic adapter. This study is available in four convenient locations in Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Hagerstown had a collection of donations to disassemble today for ROMP! If you have any prosthetics you aren't using, your nearest APO office is happy to accept them! #donations #prosthetics #orthotics #charity #ROMPglobal #ROMP #recycle #upcycle #thankyou #thankful

As a leader in the profession, Ability P&O is committed to pursuing cutting edge research to continuously improve patient care and develop advancements that can change our patients’ lives. The COVID19 #pandemic has disrupted the progress of clinical research in non-COVID19 #healthcare areas, and this disruption could slow or halt the progress of healthcare research. In response to the this #challenge, Ability P&O has reevaluated its research priorities and commitments. To an...y patients participating in research visits, Ability P&O has extended the same precautions for patients coming into our clinics for routine patient care visits, such as facemasks, hand hygiene, social distancing, screening, and minimal contact. Additionally, Ability P&O has identified research participation opportunities that require no in-person visits. By responding to the #COVID19 pandemic and innovating a pathway for protecting our #patients and #communities, Ability P&O is happy to announce that it has resumed clinical #research activities effective October of 2020. Any inquiries about the research study participation #opportunities and our COVID19 precautions are welcome. http://www.abilitypo.com/o/clinical-research-and-academics/

Clark Williams USMC Veteran is the first Ability patient to receive a new Ottobock C-Brace. Clark suffered a high spinal cord injury on active duty in the 1990s. He completed his rehabilitation and returned to active duty and retired from the military in the early 2000s. He has gone on to own and run his own brewery and recently sold it. He has struggled with increasing weakness in the last few years as a result of the original injury that has limited his mobility but not h...is determination. He was able to walk short distances with an AFO and a rolling walker before the C-brace but was always wary of uneven ground. After using the device, he talked about how he can now stop wherever he is and know that the C-Brace will lock securely regardless of whether the ground is level or his knee is bent. He doesn’t worry so much about his weak leg getting tired because the C-Brace gives him so much more stability. We walked outside and he was thrilled he could stand on a slope without concern of his knee buckling. Even on the incline, the device locked for him allowing him to stand up straight with confidence. #cBrace #ottobock #USMC #veteran #spinalinjury #AFO #military #abilitypo #improvement #brace #injury #correction #ottobocklove #device #security #walker #SCI

Check out this latest transfemoral solution from our Exton office utilizing the Ossur Seal In X Locking system + a RevoFit adjustable socket + Ottobock C-leg 4! We were super stoked about this case today as well as our foot over foot case that got delivered. Check him out running in the hallway. He called it a Ferrari and said we provided the easiest fitting process he’s ever been through! Össur Revofit Ottobock #adjustablesocket #ferrari #abilitypo #ossur #revofit #transfemoral #exton #running #gorun #runnerlife #runlife

Ability was thrilled to sponsor the Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation 5th annual Amputee Awareness 5K Walk, Wheel or Run in Rockville, MD. on Oct. 28! The yearly event helps raise awareness and support of those living with limb loss. While it's typically an in-person event in April, the event was postponed due to Covid-19 and ultimately hosted virtually to ensure participants could be safely involved. Read all about how this great event helps amputees get active! https://curated.tncontentexchange.com//article_02eb07bf-4f

Update: A quick update on Hero Arm patient, Shawn Davis. Due to the on-going Covid-19 pandemic, Shawn had to wait a little bit longer for his custom Deus Ex cover from Open Bionics. However, the wait was worth it for how awesome the cover turned out! Shawn is truly turning his limb difference into a superpower. #superpower #Heroarm #abilitypo #limbdifference #customlimb #openbionics #bionicarm

At Ability Prosthetics and Orthotics, we are proud to offer cutting-edge technology from Ottobock. Customization and digital capabilities allow us to offer our patients care and devices that empower, engage, and connect them to a constantly evolving world. Through technology and our expert staff, we deliver the right individual solution for the results and quality that enhance our patients’ lives! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl146PBwhRg

Happy Friday! This week, Eric Shoemaker, MS, CPO and Kris Desjardins, CPO, FAAOP donated prosthetics components to engineering students at The Catholic University of America . We love getting involved with the community, and to see students of all studies take an interest in the thing we are so passionate about is wonderful! What made you smile this week? Tell us in the comments! #CUA #donation #donate #giveback #share #spreadknowledge #engineer #engineering #students #study #prosthetics #orthotics #Abilitypo #Catholicuniversity #catholicuniversityofamerica #lovewhatyoudo #dowhatyoulove #components #educate #education

Check it out! The Kinnex study Brian Kaluf, BSE, CP, FAAOP participated in has been published in the Journal of Prosthetics! https://journals.lww.com//Comparative_Effectiveness_of.2.a

Check out this feature from @Science_Is_US of our very own Jason Kunec, CP/BOCO! _______ "I started out at Penn State @psuinsider studying engineering. In my second year, I shifted my focus to healthcare and studying biology, in part after a conversation with a family friend whose father had recently had an amputation. The idea of combining engineering and healthcare intrigued me. I worked in the field as a technician, a practitioner, and a manager before becoming a clinical ...supervisor for the VA in Washington, DC for about 8 years, designing artificial limbs and braces and really building up the prosthetics program there. I worked with a lot of vets and some recent active duty members. Now I work in a private practice and have patients of all ages. People in their 20s who had been doing 5ks before some kind of accident, children born with a congenital deficiency, or a geriatric patient who is dealing with diabetic neuropathy. From start to finish, which is usually around a month’s time, I work to get them as close as I can to their life as it was before. For me, seeing a patient come into my office in a wheelchair or with a recent amputation and then later getting up and walking is the most fulfilling thing for me. And I love using the latest advancements in technology. My 15-year-old daughter wants to be a vet. When she’s old enough, I’ll tell her what helped me. Get out there and talk to people-you’re going to be dealing with people from all walks of life, communication is key. See more

We are pleased to announce a new course we are offering that is presented by Thuasne USA. Course Description: Discover the latest composite Ankle Foot Orthosis to manage foot drop and improve close chain kinematics. This course provides: *Methods for selection of an appropriate composite AFO *An examination of appropriate outcome measures based on patient goals... *Simple solutions for overcoming fitting challenges *An examination of the static alignment principles for optimizing closed chain kinematics This webinar will be for MD, PA and NC. Click the links below to sign up! MD 10/28 12-1: https://lnkd.in/eTA4XSY NC 10/27 12-1: https://lnkd.in/e953aF6 PA 10/29 12-1: https://lnkd.in/eGX3Mfa

Exciting things are happening this month! It's Physical Therapy Month AND we are launching a co-marketing opportunity with Thuasne USA for a webinar with a physical therapy focus and CEU opportunity. Keep an eye on your email in the coming days for registration links. We will be conducting webinars for Maryland, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. #physicaltherapy #marketing #webinar #CEU #abilitypo

Check out this awesome replacement socket the #wyomissing team just did! The patient saw this design on a shirt and loved it! Össur fabricated the final socket. Do you have a custom socket? Share it with us in the comments! #socket #custom #teamwork #abilitypo #prosthetics