Pedorthic Newswire Issue #465

April 18, 2012, Issue #465

DISCUSSION

Send your comments, questions, responses, articles or case studies to Pedorthic Newswire at editor@pedorthicnewswire.com

Your emails will be reviewed by pedorthists and the editors of Pedorthic Newswire, and selected submissions will be posted in an upcoming issue for feedback from other readers. We reserve the right to edit submissions and responses. Please note:the deadline for all submissions and responses is 12 noon Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday for that week's issue.

NEW COMMENT

Comment: I've asked Tara, PNW's Editor, to rerun the story below that was featured in PNW earlier this year regarding the dramatic reduction in diabetic lower extremity amputations. I really believe that the Pedorthic community has been a big part of the solution and should be very proud of this achievement. In addition, this helps validate Medicare's Therapeutic Shoe Benefit as a now proven example of how affordable conservative modalities can be used effectively to help prevent serious and costly health conditions.

Considering the magnitude of the story for our industry, I was really surprised that it didn't generate more discussion. Any other thoughts or comments about this?

Click Here for Article

-Larry Schwartz, Aetrex

PREVIOUS QUESTION AND COMMENT WITHOUT RESPONSES

Question: I had someone ask me for Cheerleader shoes the other day. I did some research and found different manufacturers on the internet. Most of the shoes do not look like they would deliver what the manufacturer promises, which is:
- Good arch support (there is a picture of a normal looking shoe inlay)
- Extra cushioned outsole (those things are so flat that I have no idea where they get the extra cushion.)

Any information or your thoughts are greatly appreciated. Thanks.

-CPed2006

Comment: With all the articles in our industry trade publications talking about the delays in shipments of shoes to US and problems with workforce at Chinese factories, we are seeing more and more defects or lack of quality control in shoes shipped to our store. These are with brands that historically we had few if any quality issues. We recently received 5 pair of men's 11.5 D athletic shoes and every pair had multiple glue spots visible on leather upper, plus extensive, sloppy glue run over around vamp/soling at heel area. Since we needed the inventory, I paid to have my staff remove glue spots as best they could. One pair was not salvageable.

The cleaning took 5-10 minutes per shoe of my staff's time to clean up the glue. Since the articles make it sound like Chinese factories are having a harder and harder time in filling orders in a timely fashion and probably are telling quality control to back off to fill orders, I am thinking of having a store policy of charging back company my staff's time to correct problems and if it gets where we have to pull every pair of shoes out of box and do complete inspection on a brand, also charge back an inspection fee. Have other store owners resorted to this chargeback for their staff's time yet?

-John Mishasek, BOCPD, CPed

SPONSOR NEWS

HEALTH AND INDUSTRY

Proper Foot Care Keeps You Active

While just a small percentage of people are born with foot problems, three out of four Americans will experience a serious foot problem at least once in their lifetime, according to a recent study cited by the Foot Health Network at foot.com.
When you consider that the average person spends a great deal of time on his or her feet, along with the fact that each foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments and 19 muscles, it probably doesn't come as surprise that foot problems in our area increase as the weather improves each spring. Full Text

Source: NW Times

Prosthetics get the personal touch

By: Lee Romney

As a boy, Scott Summit was entranced by that television show's premise. As an industrial designer, he has made it his business. Summit makes legs. Chrome-plated legs. Leather-coated legs. Legs, some laser-etched with tribal tattoos, that mirror the shape of an amputee's sound limb without pretending in the least to be human. Prosthetics long have focused on function. But the same design sensibility that has come to influence practical items like smartphones is turning synthetic limbs into a platform for self-expression. As Summit helps fulfill that desire, he is influencing what it means to live with a disability. Designer limbs must "represent personality as well as physicality," Summit said recently from his work space on the upper floor of a light-dappled building near downtown San Francisco. Full Text

Source: LA Times

March Retail Sales Estimates Exceed Expectations

U.S. spending levels at sporting goods, apparel and footwear stores during the first quarter were running 5 to 8 percent ahead of their levels a year earlier, advance estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau Monday indicate. The agency's advance month estimate for retail sales in March generally surpassed expectations and prompted some economists to wonder if the economy is growing faster than they thought. Advance estimates of retail sales at sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores reached $21.1 billion in March, up 0.5 percent from February, and up 5.4 percent from March 2011, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. First quarter sales by those stores were up 3.5 and 6.0 percent respectively from the fourth and first quarters of last year. Full Text

Source: SGB Update

AETREX iSTEP WEBINARS

Visit our full April 2012 Schedule

DIABETES

Avoiding amputations

Dennis Chance, 58, of Columbia, lost the lower half of his right leg in June of 2009. The amputation was the result of poor circulation related to type 2 diabetes and a blood clotting disease. By his own admission, things didn't have to turn out the way they did. "I could have done better," says Chance, a pharmacist who spends his days standing. Particularly, he could have sat down more and probably done more leg extensive exercises. Of the myriad causes of amputations - cancer, disease, trauma, war - vascular diseases such as diabetes and peripheral arterial disease make up 54 percent of the cases. An estimated 185,000 amputations occur yearly in the United States. The Amputee Coalition of America reports that 60 percent are preventable. Full Text

Source: Clarion Ledger

Diabetes in the workplace.

By: Patrick O'Hara

I had a conversation with a friend who is also diabetic a couple of days ago. We talked about the difficulty this disease presents in the workplace. He recalled a story that happened when he was initially diagnosed. When he was first diagnosed he asked me a lot of questions. He wanted to know how my place of work dealt with my disease. The issue he was having was that his job had a problem with him taking extra breaks to check his blood glucose and possibly even longer to fix the problem. They had taken to writing him up. So he decided he would try to discreetly test his blood glucose at his desk, sometimes taking insulin or eating a snack there too if need be. He discovered that he was not being as discreet as he thought and was brought into a meeting with HR. Full Text

Source: Chicago Now

Diabetic service dog a lifesaver

By: Matt Henson

Dogs are often called man's best friend, but for diabetics they can also be lifesavers. Dr. Jonathan Beach's new chocolate lab, Banting, arrives at his home in Altona. But this puppy is much more then a pet -- Banting is his lifeline. He is a diabetic alert dog. "He can scent my lows, or changes in blood sugars from five miles," Beach said. "They can actually detect a rise or a fall up to an hour before you know it or your meter would catch it," said Cheri Campbell with Warren Retrievers, a Virginia-based non-profit that trained Banting and hundreds of labs each year for invisible diseases like diabetes, PTSD and autism. "He will just paw him or a nose nudge to let him know there is a problem," Campbell said. Full Text

Source: WCAX

SPORTS AND FITNESS

Study finds being a sports fan is good for your health

By: Melanie Yuill

When you think of sports fans, do you think of couch potatoes with a bag of chips in one hand and a beer in the other? Well, the stereotype, could be just that, a stereotype. A new study out shows that sports fans are actually pretty healthy. The study written by a psychology professor at Murray State University in Kentucky said sports fans are active physically, politically, and socially. In South Bend Silver hawks fans agree that there are healthy benefits to being a sports fan. But a local doctor also said being a sports fan doesn't automatically make you healthy. Full Text

Source: Fox 28

Center designed for fitness enthusiasts with disabilities

By: Luci Scott

At age 14, Nick Springer was hiking the Appalachian Trail when he came down with a bout of meningitis that left him a quadruple amputee. But that hasn't deterred him from participating in sports. Now a world-class athlete, the Phoenix resident is a member of the U.S. National Wheelchair Rugby Team, which will compete in the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. The games run Aug. 29 to Sept. 9, soon after the Olympics and in the same venue. The rugby team won the gold medal in the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing. Full Text

Source: Az Central

BECOMING CERTIFIED IN PEDORTHICS

Pedorthics is a professional field covering the design, manufacture, modification and/or fit of footwear. Pedorthics encompasses shoes, orthoses and foot devices that prevent or alleviate foot problems caused by disease, overuse, injury or congenital defect. Certified Pedorthists work with patients and their footwear to conform to a doctor's footwear prescription as part of the patient's treatment

To earn certification in Pedorthics, you must take a pre-determined number of course hours in pedorthics and pass a certifying examination overseen by either The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics® or Board for Certification/Accreditation, Int'l. Both the ABC and BOC are independent certification bodies that set standards for the profession and offer certifications that are recognized by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.

More information, including FAQ's

The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics information on the step-by-step process of becoming a certified pedorthist

Board of Certification/Accreditation International information on becoming a BOC Pedorthist.

For information on the Canadian certifying organization visit The Pedorthic Association of Canada.

ONGOING COURSES AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR BECOMING CERTIFIED IN PEDORTHICS

The Robert M. Palmer M.D., Institute of Biomechanics "A Not-For-Profit School" has uniquely designed courses to provide pedorthic education for the retail, clinical or biomechanical knowledge seeking pedorthist. Course dates for Levels 1-3 in a variety of locations in the United States, Hong Kong, Mainland China and Korea are available. Click here to view a detailed calendar including dates and locations, information and pricing.

Robert M Palmer 2012 Schedule

May

Elwood, Indiana - May 5 - 14

June

Brea / El Monte, California TBD - June 23 - July 2

August

Elwood, Indiana - August 18- 27

September

Orlando, Florida - Sept 8 - 17

Elwood, Indiana - Sept 29 - Oct 8

Fall 2012

Malaysia TBD -

November

Elwood, Indiana - Nov 10 - 19

December

Brea / El Monte, California - Dec 8

RMPI Pre Certification Training- PEDORTHIC PRE-CERTIFICATION EDUCATION
PFA Scholarship Value @ 70% Savings
Published Tuition 2010 - $4K, "Powerstep Scholarship" Tuition Total $1500
(does not include travel / books / meals)
Must Enroll Before April 30, 2012
Attendance Date Flexible - CAPE/NCOPE Compliant - Levels 1,2,3
Courses Held In Elwood, Indiana Include Dormitory Housing & Shuttle Service
By prior reservation on a first-come-first-serve basis
To learn more about our courses or how you can share our vision, visit us at:
www.rmpi.org

CFS Allied Health Education: Pedorthic Certification: Exam Review. This review is focused on supplying the student with the skills and knowledge needed to pass the ABC Certified Pedorthic exam by presenting exam-like questions, exploring possible answers, and discussing rationales for correct and incorrect answers. Contact CFS Allied Health Education at (918) 266-3678 or visit http://www.learnpedorthics.com/ for more information.

*ABC and The American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics are registered trademarks of the The American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics, Inc., which is not affiliated with CFS Allied Health Education and does not endorse this review.

Pedorthic Pre-Certification Training Course July 30th - August 12, 2012 In cooperation with ABC requirements, Eneslow Pedorthic Institute (EPI) is offering the three-level competency training course for aspiring CPEDS. To provide maximum benefit in a minimum of time, a portion of the level one curriculum will be administered through a distance learning program that includes required readings, interactive CD's and testing of all mandatory topics.

Upon passing the level one test, students will attend the remainder of the pedorthic pre-certification course at Eneslow Pedorthic Institute for 2 weeks during July 30th, 2012 to August 12th, 2012. This class completes required education prerequisite to sit for national certification exam. It does not satisfy the requirement of 1000 documented hours of field experience.

For more information on ABC Clinical Practice Requirements, please go to www.abcop.org.

Please contact Sarah Goldberg at epi@eneslow.com or 212-477-2300 x211 for more information. Pedorthic Pre-Certification Course - $3,995

BECOME AN ABC THERAPEUTIC SHOE FITTER

For information on Aetrex Worldwide Therapeutic Shoe Fitter Courses, please contact the Aetrex Marketing Department at: marketing@aetrex.com.

Aetrex Worldwide Therapeutic Shoe Fitter Courses

Information on 2012 Aetrex Worldwide Therapeutic Shoe Fitter Courses will be coming soon.

2012 COURSES

2012 FOOT SOLUTIONS PEDORTHIC PRE-CERTIFICATION COURSE SCHEDULE & INFORMATION

Foot Solutions is an accredited facility that holds classes four times per year. The course will offer the certificate needed in all three levels so that you qualify to sit for the C. Ped. Exam. The facility is located at 2359 Windy Hill Road, Suite 400, Marietta, GA 30067

February 13 - February 24

May 11 - 1 Day Cram Session (free with attendance of pre-cert class)

May 14 - May 25

August 3 - 1 Day Cram Session (free with attendance of pre-cert class)

August 6 - August 17

October 8 - October 19

November 9 - 1 Day Cram Session (free with attendance of pre-cert class)

For application and fee information, contact:

Tracy Strickland 1-866-338-2597 EXT: 206 tstrickland@footsolutions.com

Betty Hubauer 1-866-338-2597 EXT: 201 bhubauer@footsolutions.com

Dr. William Faddock 1-866-338-2597 EXT: 209 bfaddock@footsolutions.com

UPCOMING COURSES FOR CERTIFIED PEDORTHISTS & ALLIED PROFESSIONALS

MONTHLY AND ONGOING

Riecken's Orthotic Labs - 800-331-8040; SAFIO Class, Second Friday of every month, at 5115 Oak Grove Rd., Evansville, IN. Four casting stands provided, limited to 8 students. Contact Darlene at the above number for more information.

Traveling Courses To Your Area sponsored by The Robert M. Palmer, M.D., Institute of Biomechanics, Inc. a not-for-profit pedorthic school. Please contact us to discuss your needs at phone: 765-557-7216. Email: pam@pedorthicbiomechanics.org or visit our Web site at: http://www.pedorthicbiomechanics.org/.

The Robert M. Palmer, M.D., Institute Of Biomechanics, Inc. a not-for-profit pedorthic school: Advanced Manufacturing - 50 Hour Course - Approved For 49.5 CME's for Pedorthists by the ABC. This course is designed to teach BAPFOL standards in manufacturing functional feet orthoses and provide an introduction to advanced biomechanical posting. Class size is limited to two students. For more information or to customize a course to meet your manufacturing educational needs, please email pam@rmpi.org or phone 765-557-7216. Tuition cost: $2K - includes housing and transportation to and from the airport and school. Click Here for More Info

April

Toronto / Sarnia - Canada - Two Courses: April 11 - 25