Advanced Prosthetics & Orthotics - May 2020

Advanced Prosthetics & Orthotics - May 2020

kormyloortho.com

May 2020

My father is an above-the-knee amputee, and he has been since I was a kid. For that reason, I’ve never felt discomfort about topics like prosthetics or amputations. Those things have felt normal almost as long as I’ve been alive. It was so normal, in fact, that for a long time it didn’t even occur to me that working with amputees and prosthetics was an actual career path. Around the time I was making decisions about what to study in college and what career path I wanted to pursue, my dad was getting his prosthetic refit. It was the first time he had gone in for a refit in my memory, and it occurred to me that it must be someone’s job to replace my dad’s leg. With that, I started putting together a plan to make working with prosthetics my career. The rest is history. I’ve been a Certified Prosthetist and Orthotist (CPO) since 2010. I did my residency here at Kormylo-Advanced Prosthetics & Orthotics and then came back as a CPO about a year and a half ago. The work environment is unlike any other in the medical field because I basically get to build things in a workshop while also working directly with patients. There aren’t many health care professionals who get to turn a wrench on a daily basis. CPOs get a lot of flexibility to be creative. Every patient is different and so is every prosthetic we make. Our patients all have very different ideas about the level of functionality they want in their prosthetics, from just being able to walk around to being able to run marathons. In a very literal sense, there is never a one-size-fits-all approach to how we create prosthetics or help our patients, and that certainly keeps things interesting at the office. That being said, the thing I enjoy most about being a CPO is working with people. I enjoy getting to know my patients’ lives and personalities, and watching them overcome the obstacles in their way is incredible. And while A Job Unlike Any Other What I Love About Being a CPO

I’m more than happy to offer my

expertise when working with my patients, I want them to know their input about

their specific situation is just as valuable. We’re here ultimately to collaborate with our patients, listen to their concerns, and come up with solutions to address whatever challenges they’ve come up against.

Outside the office, I love keeping up an active lifestyle. I spend a lot of time outdoors, going camping or mountain biking, and I take jiujitsu classes as well. For any of our patients who also enjoy staying active, let us know what types of activities you want to participate in with your prosthetic. We’ll make sure you can do it. Before I sign off, I just wanted to add that I hope all of you are doing well and that you’re staying safe and healthy during this time. Let us know if there’s anything we can do to help you.

– Pete Simpson

“In a very literal sense, there is never a one-size-fits-all approach to how we create prosthetics or help our patients, and that certainly keeps things interesting at the office.”

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Here Are a Few Options LOOKING FOR MOVIES OR TV SHOWS WITH AMPUTEE CHARACTERS?

Watching movies and TV shows is an easy way to pass the time during downtime, and plenty of viewing options today feature amputee hosts, protagonists, and heroes. Whether you’re just looking for something you might enjoy or something for the whole family, check out some of these movies and TV shows with amputee characters. ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Trilogy These movies are the story of a boy, Hiccup, and his dragon, Toothless. Through their friendship, Hiccup’s people, the brave and curmudgeonly Vikings of Berk, and the dragons that periodically attack them learn to live alongside one another. During most of the three movies, Hiccup lives with a below-the-knee amputation due to a dragon-riding accident and still manages to be the most daring dragon rider in the land. The kids can enjoy these movies, too, and they’re available to rent on Amazon Prime, iTunes, and Google Play. ‘127 Hours’ This movie is not for the faint of heart. Based on the real-life events of hiker and climber Aron Ralston, who had to amputate his own hand after a dislodged boulder pinned it to a canyon wall, his story is inspirational. Gruesome as the idea of self-amputation is, Ralston resumed his climbing career undaunted not long after regaining his health. He climbed Aconcagua, the tallest mountain in South America, just two years after his accident. “127 Hours” is available to rent on Amazon Prime, Vudu, iTunes, and Google Play.

Why May Is the Best Month to Start BIRD-WATCHING FOR BEGINNERS

Bird-watching is like a lifelong scavenger hunt that you can play anywhere on Earth. The activity provides a mixture of science, travel, and beauty, and it’s a chance to get outside for feathered adventures and quiet reflection. The month of May is a great time of year to go birding because rising temperatures prompt spring migration. So if you're eager to begin bird-watching, there’s no better time than now. Here are some tips to get started. Educate Yourself Thousands of species of birds span all corners of the globe. That’s why finding them is an exciting prospect — there’s no end to the hunt! Start by researching birds that are native to your location. Purchase a field guide with pictures of each bird and maps of their range and use it to figure out where different birds live. From there, it’s easy to pick your first spotting goal. You can even get yourself extra excited by watching a few bird documentaries. Gear Up One of the best things about birding is that you don’t need a lot of equipment to do it. As long as you’ve got your field guide and comfortable walking shoes, the only other thing you’ll need is a pair of binoculars. And they don’t have to be fancy. As long as they can zoom in on faraway trees and perches, they’ll work for now. You can always upgrade later. Go Exploring Your very first birding excursion is important because you don’t want to be overwhelmed or underwhelmed. So use your field guide to home in on a single bird and go find it. It may be local, or you can plan a trip to a specific bird’s natural habitat. Stay focused and don’t get distracted by other species. The thrill that comes with spotting your first bird will keep you coming back to find the rest. Bird-watching is a wonderful hobby because it’s easy to get started and can last a lifetime. As long as you can walk, drive, or look out a window, you can be a birder. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and find some birds!

‘Lost Cities With Albert Lin’ If you’re looking for a program to provide vicarious adventure, then check out “Lost Cities With Albert Lin.” Throughout the series, Lin travels across the globe, using the latest computer tech to virtually reconstruct lost cities from ruins while teaching viewers about them along the way. Lin, who has sometimes been called “the bionic Indiana Jones,” is a National Geographic

Explorer with a Ph.D. in material science who lost his foot after an off-road vehicle accident. He now wears a bionic prosthetic and continues exploring the sites of ancient civilizations. “Lost Cities With Albert Lin” is available to stream for free with a Disney+ or Sling TV subscription.

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One program working on this issue is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s National Emphasis Program on amputations. Started in 2006 and last updated in 2015, this program identifies industries that have above-average instances of workplace injury resulting in amputation. They get in touch with employers in high-risk industries to put together meetings, presentations, and other educational opportunities. They also inspect workplaces for any machinery or other hazards that might lead to injuries necessitating an amputation. At the same time, employers can play a more active role in training and making sure any potentially dangerous equipment works properly. If employers fail to take action, however, then it’s up to the employees to report violations or concerns. Even though many of you might not be working right now, or you’re working from home, concerns about employee safety are still worth keeping in mind for when you return to your workplace. Don’t let safety violations go unnoticed. If everyone does their part, then you can reduce the frequency of amputations stemming from workplace injuries. Decreasing Amputations in High-Risk Industries

Fortunately, workplace injuries necessitating amputation are few and far between. Amputations related to work injuries affect roughly 1 in 20,000 workers in the United States. However, some industries still pose a much higher risk to

workers than other industries. In the manufacturing industry, workplace injuries account for 2.1 amputations per 10,000 workers. Other high-risk industries include construction, agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting at 1.4 amputations for every 10,000 workers. According to the latest available >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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