224 | march 2014 | volume 44 | number 3 | journal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy
after whiplash trauma, to perform a squat while monitoring hip valgus, or to monitor unilateral hip drop with movement.
Developed by a physical therapist, the Motion Guidance system consists of an adjustable laser pointer that fits around a patient’s limbs with mounting plates and straps. The pointer works in conjunction with graphics on a tracking mat to enable the patient to visualize where he or she is moving a particular limb, thus promoting optimal gross motor patterns.
The price of the Motion Guidance kit is $149.99 and includes 1 laser, 2 adjustable mounting plates, 2 strap sizes, a tracking mat (with suction hooks to hang), batteries, and a case.
For more information, visit http://www.motionguidance.com.
OPTP OFFERS ASYMMETRICAL FOAM ROLLER
OPTP of Minneapolis, MN has introduced an anatomical roller that neither looks nor performs like other foam rollers on the market. The Anatomical Roller is asymmetrical, with 1 round side, tapered ends, and a shallow groove down the middle. These design features were specifically developed to support and align the spine during exercise, as well as to make the roller a versatile workout tool.
Enhancing many exercise styles, the Anatomical Roller is intended to aid core training, balance work, and body alignment. Physical therapists
HOCOMA LAUNCHES FREED MODULE FOR LOKOMATPRO
Hocoma, a Swiss-based medical technology company, unveiled the FreeD module for the LokomatPro at the American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) last month in Las Vegas. FreeD provides lateral translation and transverse rotation of the pelvis for a more physiological gait pattern as well as balance activation.
The LokomatPro is a driven gait orthosis that automates locomotion therapy on a treadmill and assists walking movements of gait-impaired patients with neurological diseases and injuries. The rehabilitative exercise device has been shown to improve therapy outcomes by providing highly intensive, individualized training in an environment with continuous feedback.
Until recently, leg movement was limited to the sagittal plane. However, for challenging gait training at a later stage of rehabilitation, additional degrees of freedom are beneficial. The Lokomat module FreeD further improves therapy by allowing for additional motoric aspects of gait training. Hocoma’s direct response to requests from Lokomat users worldwide, the FreeD module provides:• Lateral and rotational movements
of the pelvis within the orthosis. The device features weight shift and balance activation through lateral and rotational movements of the pelvis. The passively guided hip abduction and adduction, as well as the driven lateral translation of body-weight support, are fully synchronized with pelvis movement of the orthosis.
• Complete shift of body weight over the stance leg (balance activation). Especially hemiparetic stroke patients often develop compensatory movement patterns, depending primarily on the nonaffected leg. To overcome these compensatory patterns, the device helps to actively
use the paretic leg as well. While training, patients can shift their weight completely over their stance leg and thereby activate their core muscles and experience balance aspects. This is crucial for relearning how to walk independently.
• Improved coupling between legs and trunk (more physiologic). Through lateral weight shift over the stance leg and pelvis rotation, a more physiologic gait pattern can be achieved. The improved and intensified training is particularly helpful for hemiplegic stroke patients and patients with craniocerebral injury.
• Prolonged period of Lokomat training. As an essential part of natural walking, the additional balance activation significantly prolongs the suitable period of the Lokomat training. By supporting the more complex aspects of walking, the patient can train longer in the safe environment of the device before starting to walk over ground.Hocoma also introduced Valedo for
Home Usage at CSM 2014. Valedo is a new training device targeted at low back pain therapy. This version of Valedo marks the latest addition to the Valedo therapy concept and closes the loop between the product’s use in the clinic and the home.
For more information, visit http://www.hocoma.com.
MOTION GUIDANCE UNVEILS VISUAL FEEDBACK SYSTEM
Motion Guidance of Denver, CO has introduced a training system that offers patients immediate visual feedback about how they move. Limited only by the creativity of the physical therapist, the system can be modified to suit any maladaptive movement so that patients can see what they need to correct and practice the proper dynamic or static motion. Motion Guidance might be used, for instance, to work on cervical tracking
journal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy | volume 44 | number 3 | march 2014 | 225
can modify exercise challenges for their patients by selecting the roller’s stable or unstable position. In the unstable position, the rounded side is down for a core and balance challenge. The spine is aligned in the center groove while the head and sacrum rest comfortably on the tapered ends. In the stable position, the grooved side is down for a stable exercise base, altering the challenge and focus. The roller also offers many exercises in kneeling and standing positions; it can be used as a balance board or beam.
The Anatomical Roller is constructed of ethylene-vinyl acetate foam and includes an instructional exercise poster. It measures 95 × 15 × 10 cm (length by width by height). The wide end measures 13 × 5 cm (width by height), with an 11° slope. The narrow end measures 10 × 3 cm (width by height), with a 13° slope. The roller is priced at $33.95.
For more information, visit http://www.optp.com.
ALTERG INTRODUCES ONLINE REFERRAL PROGRAM
Fremont, CA–based AlterG has created an online referral program to connect clinics and hospitals that have its Anti-Gravity Treadmills and other products with consumers seeking access to this equipment. Introduced last month at the American Physical Therapy Association’s CSM in Las Vegas, the referral program has already attracted the participation of more than 100 facilities across the country, according to the company.
disorders, is a robotic assistive device that is activated by patient-initiated movement and provides stability and assistance for a full range of mobility training.
For more information, visit http://www.alterg.com/referral-program.
PERFORMANCE HEALTH LAUNCHES CONSUMER
BIOFREEZE SAMPLE PROGRAM
Performance Health of Akron, OH has begun a web-based referral and sampling program for its Biofreeze product that the company believes will introduce new patients and clients not only to its topical pain reliever but also to physical therapy clinics.
“We wanted to take the Biofreeze sampling program to the next level and believe that social media is the best way to do that,” said Ethan Pochman, Vice President, US Clinical, Performance Health. “With our new online sampling application, we accept consumer requests for free Biofreeze samples and provide those requests to practitioners in the consumer’s area. This creates an opportunity for the practitioner to introduce both Biofreeze and their practice to someone looking for pain relief, someone who may likely become a new patient or client.”
To participate in the program, practitioners need to enroll in the Biofreeze where-to-buy referral service at www.performancehealth.com/signup and order a supply of free Biofreeze samples. With the introduction of this new online request application, the where-to-buy program now supports 2 channels of access for Biofreeze Pain Reliever, which is not available at retail. Consumers looking for immediate purchase can use the where-to-buy online locator to identify local practitioners who sell Biofreeze. Consumers looking for a first trial of Biofreeze can request a sample at http://samples.biofreeze.com.
Registered where-to-buy practitioners
From seniors with balance challenges to runners looking to compete in their next marathon, individuals with mobility issues can now go to AlterG’s website, enter their zip code, and find clinics and hospitals with the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill and Bionic Leg located near them. Consumers can also use the AlterG.com web portal to purchase time on this equipment at that facility.
“There are 30 to 50 million people in the United States with mobility impairments, and most of them are just living with their issue, not realizing they can get help from their local PT clinic or wellness facility,” said AlterG Vice President of Marketing Gabriel Griego. This program “is both a business solution to our many partners as well as an opening up of access and treatment to those in need.”
Facilities with AlterG equipment can participate in the referral program as follows:
Step 1. Join the referral program to fill any unused time on your Anti-Gravity Treadmill.
Step 2. Prospective customer finds the participating clinic/hospital’s location on the AlterG website and purchases AlterG trial session(s) at the facility: 1 session (30 minutes) for $25 or 3 sessions for $50.
Step 3. The facility is notified of the purchase and reaches out to the customer to schedule the session.
Step 4. The customer comes to the facility to redeem his or her sessions. The facility introduces the customer to its range of services and signs them up for its AlterG self-pay program, as a physical therapy patient or through other programs.
Step 5. AlterG sends the facility $10 per redeemed session.
AlterG’s Anti-Gravity Treadmills use differential air pressure technology, originally developed at NASA, to comfortably “unweight” patients so that they walk or run at a lower body weight. The Bionic Leg, designed for patients with neurological and orthopaedic gait
226 | march 2014 | volume 44 | number 3 | journal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy
new products (continued)
study 50 or more athletes, ages 13 to 28, who sustained a head injury within 7 days of seeking care at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program. In addition to undergoing examination-room assessments, vestibular and ocular evaluations, and neurocognitive testing, patients will have an HDFT scan. HDFT uses advanced computational means to process data from sophisticated magnetic resonance imaging machines, revealing brain pathways and spots where the tracts might be disrupted. For more information, visit http://www.upmc.com.
• The Kiva VCF Treatment System by Benvenue Medical, Inc of Santa Clara, CA received 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the reduction and treatment of spinal fractures. The Kiva System is an implant-based solution for vertebral augmentation and a departure from balloon kyphoplasty; it is the first new approach to the treatment of vertebral compression fractures in more than a decade. In the clinical studies provided in support of the 510(k) application for market clearance, the Kiva System was shown to meet or exceed the performance of balloon kyphoplasty, the current standard of care in treating vertebral compression fractures. This system is indicated for use in the reduction and treatment of spinal fractures in the thoracic and/or lumbar spine from T6 to L5. For more information, visit http://benvenuemedical.com.
Manufacturers and distributors supply product information. Products described should not be construed as having the endorsement of the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy® or its publisher, JOSPT®, Inc.
wanting to participate in this new program can order free product samples at 800-BIOFREEZE (800-246-3733). Many practitioners have been using Biofreeze samples as a marketing tool for years. The sample is an information card customized with the practitioner’s contact information and a Biofreeze packet attached. Performance Health provides these samples to practitioners in whatever quantity they need for patient trial or for events in their communities.
With this newest Biofreeze sample-request application, registered practitioners can expand their marketing efforts. The practitioner is provided with the consumer’s name, phone number, mailing address, and e-mail address. The practitioner puts together a simple envelope with the free sample that has been customized for his or her practice, along with information about the practice. Now, the physical therapist has a low-cost yet targeted marketing piece and has started a conversation with a potential patient or client, someone who has already indicated a need for pain relief by requesting a sample.
For more information, visit http://www.Biofreeze.com/SamplingIntro.
NOTEWORTHY
• The Foundation for Physical Therapy announced last month that it has raised $3 million to fund a center dedicated to training physical therapists in health services research. The mission of the Center of Excellence for Health Services/Health Policy Research (COE) is to significantly expand the number of physical therapist investigators specializing in health services/health policy research—including the delivery, organization, and financing of care and analysis of outcomes. The
Foundation will award a $2.5 million grant to the most qualified applicant to launch and manage the COE. The Foundation expects to begin accepting letters of intent for the grant later this year. An ad hoc scientific review committee with expertise in health services/health policy research will review the applications, and the Board of Trustees anticipates granting the award in 2015. Driving this campaign are the profession’s insufficient health services/policy research data, according to Foundation Board of Trustees President William G. Boissonnault, PT, DPT, DHSc, FAPTA, FAAOMPT. This is compounded, he noted, by the lack of physical therapists with the skills in health services analyses required to meet today’s health care challenges and to demonstrate the value of physical therapy in the broader health care debate. For more information, visit http://www.Foundation4pt.org.
• General Electric and the National Football League have awarded one of their inaugural Head Health Initiative grants to an interdepartmental University of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center effort in which researchers will assess whether a powerful imaging technology can identify concussion and subsequent recovery in a newly injured athlete to safely return him or her to play. High-definition fiber tracking (HDFT), developed by a team led by Walter Schneider, PhD, professor of psychology and neurological surgery and a senior scientist at the University of Pittsburgh’s Learning Research and Development Center, will be tested in a 1-year study to see if it could become the first imaging technique to accurately and consistently aid in determining a diagnosis of concussion and injury prognosis. The project will
