It was great to see Stef Reid at the launch of the Team GB kit launch for the Olympics and Paralympics. Designed by Stella McCartney the kit has a designer look to it along with being practical and functional for each represented sport. The athletes spent a day rehearsing for the catwalk style launch for the world press.
prosthetics
Prosthetics: The Future Seminar
Patients and technical experts gave hands on practical demonstrations at Proactive Prosthetics seminar, entitled Prosthetics the Future, at their Surrey based clinic on Friday 25th November 2011.
The aim of the seminar, which was accredited by APIL with 6 hours CPD, was to give some practical insight into the rehabilitation of amputees and the role of professionals involved, with a focus on the new technology and techniques now available to patients.
The seminar included a look at new generation prosthetics by Blatchford with demonstrations from Ossur Power Knee and Otto Bock Genium. British 2012 gold medal Paralympic hopeful Stefanie Reid talked about her journey to becoming a professional athlete, clinical specialist John Sullivan gave an update on Osseo-integration and orthopaedic surgeon Mr John Angel imparted his many years of experience and expertise in amputation surgery.
The day also included physiotherapy demonstrations with patients, artist and silicone expert Sophie de Oliveira Barata on state of the art silicone covers before concluding with a discussion on the future of medico-legal claims for amputees by William Latimer-Sayer, Cloisters.
One delegate commented “All the patients were truly inspirational and it was an amazing opportunity to speak to them and learn about their real life experiences and how they overcome their difficulties.” Another added “The concluding talk on medico-legal claims was one of the most interesting, relevant to my role and pitched at a good level with clear concise information.”
Paralympic athlete Stefanie Reid said, “It’s not often you get the opportunity to talk to the legal teams who are instrumental in ensuring the level of care you receive in such an open forum. Clinics like Proactive Prosthetics work with the latest technologies and engineering available, allowing people like me to pick up my life and get on with it.”
Richard Nieveen, Director of Proactive Prosthetics, comments: “We were delighted to attract so many leading law firms to the seminar and encouraged by the level of engagement from participants and delegates during the day. We had excellent feedback and plan to hold similar seminars in the future.”
Matthew Pizzey joins Proactive as Prosthetic Technician
Proactive Prosthetics are pleased to announce the appointment of a new technician, Matthew Pizzey, to the team. Matthew joins the clinic, which includes three prosthetists, a physiotherapist and operations director, to assist in the making of sockets, thermal plastics and laminating.
A mechanical engineer by trade, Matthew’s previous role included designing and drawing under floor heating systems. Matthew first became interested in the field of prosthetics through his father who works for leading manufacturer of prosthetics, Otto Bock.
Richard Nieveen, Director of Proactive Prosthetics comments: “We are very pleased to welcome Matthew to the team and are looking forward to working with him to develop his engineering skills into the field of prosthetics. Proactive Prosthetics is one of the most experienced rehabilitation clinics in the UK and as our reputation continues to grow and our referrals increase, we have expanded both our clinic space and the team to ensure our level of care and reputation remains first class.”
Matthew Pizzey commented: “I’m delighted to join Proactive Prosthetics which is already proving to be an incredibly rewarding place to work. It’s a little different to my last job and I’m thoroughly enjoying being part of a team that not only works with amazing patients, but their commitment to patient care means we are constantly pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved in prosthetics.”
The latest appointment comes as Proactive Prosthetics celebrates its 10th anniversary and expanded facilities at Tanshire Park which now include consulting rooms, a casting area, a large well equipped clinical fitting room and prosthetic manufacturing workshop, which allows limb provision from initial consultation to post fitting physiotherapy support.
Proactive Prosthetics – first UK clinic to fit the new Genium® Knee
Proactive Prosthetics were selected to be the first UK clinic to fit their new Genium® knee to our patient Matthew Newbury. Matthew has been a C-Leg® user for 8 years and after trialing the new Genium® knee for a week in July, decided to upgrade to the Genium®. Matthew took delivery of his new Genium® knee from our clinic in Surrey in August this year. Two months on, he came back to show us how he has been getting on. He said the new knee “has given me a whole new lease of life. It’s a vast change.
“With my old leg, a lot of the time I’d be walking gingerly, avoiding tripping up, but now I can walk with much more confidence, I can climb stairs in a much more natural and normal way.
“But the best thing is I’m not tired all the time. I have my life back. I can go out for drinks and dinner until late without feeling exhausted.”
The Genium® Bionic Prosthetic System is the world’s only microprocessor controlled knee that can anticipate your movements and adapt instantaneously in order to function as close to a natural leg as possible. The Genium® allows you to focus on what you are doing, not your prosthesis.
Changing direction, altering pace, ascending stairs, and walking backwards – the user can more easily and more intuitively move through activities of daily life. Its fluid motion allows the knee to support it even in a bent position and unlike other prosthetic legs; it allows amputees to step over obstacles instead of walking around them.The Genium® – Bionic Prosthetic System represents groundbreaking progress in the field of lower limb prosthetics and is the result of extensive research and development efforts as well as more than 14 years of practical experience with the C-Leg® prosthesis system.
Thanks to the latest computer, sensor and control technology, the functionality of the Genium® will help redefine quality of life and daily mobility for amputees.
Keep watching this website for updates on how Matthew is getting on with this latest technology.
If you would like more information Genium® at Proactive Prosthetics please email or telephone us:
clinic@proactiveprosthetics.co.uk
tel: 01252 702500
Richard Nieveen speaks at International meeting in Marseille
Richard Nieveen was invited to an international meeting in Marseille France last week, to present a prosthetic paper. The session titled “Projet de Vie” was a two hour session with speakers from many other countries.
The emphasis of Mr Nieveen’s presentation was to reinforce the importance of the patient/prosthetist relationship and that fundamental to any prosthesis is socket comfort.
An independent body HAS is evaluating prosthetic and orthotic devices that are provided on schedule by the social security reimbursement scheme in France. The concern in many prosthetic clinics in France is that the purchasers of services understand prosthetic rehabilitation, that prosthetic hardware is not the most important aspect in prosthetic rehabilitation, but it is the prosthetist’s contribution that is crucial.
The photographs above show Mr Nieveen with Marcel Berthet, Secretary of ISPO France and Mr Jean Pierre Lissac, President ISPO France.
Proactive Prosthetics Celebrates 10th Anniversary
Over 60 special guests and staff came to celebrate Proactive Prothetics 10th anniversary on Friday 23rd September2011. The open day which included tours of our facilities, guest speakers, extreme croquet and afternoon tea was in celebration of 10 years since the foundation of Proactive Prosthetics, the first independant multi-disciplinary prosthetic rehabilitation clinic.
The open day was an opportunity for patients and families to meet each other as they enjoyed behind the scenes tours, learnt about the prosthetic process and enjoyed talks from special guests, including former paratrooper and novelist Paul Burns, ex-marine Jim Bonney from ADVENTURE REHAB, artist and silicone expert Sophie de Oliveira Barata and bronze medal Paralympian Stefanie Reid – all patients at the clinic.
Stefanie’s presentation was a lesson in never giving up. The 26-year-old sprint and high jump athlete lost her right foot in a boating accident at 16 years of age. She is now hoping to compete for Great Britain at the 2012 Paralympics. Stefanie comments, “Clinics like Proactive Prosthetics allow you to pick up your life and get on with it. Richard and his team are an opportunity to grab hold of and with their support and the technology now available your dreams can come true. They may end up a little different but you can do it and I don’t let anyone tell me any different.”
Richard Nieveen, Director of Proactive Prosthetics, prosthetist, with more than 25 years experience in the profession, comments: “The open day was an opportunity for us to celebrate all that we’ve achieved and thank our patients for their support, many of whom we are now privileged enough to call friends. Our success is based on the team’s total commitment to pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved in prosthetics and working closely with all of our patients in understanding their individual needs, balancing technology with lifestyle and managing the prosthetics process from start to finish. Families play a crucial role in this and the open day was also a chance to show them what we do and what they can achieve at Proactive Prosthetics.”