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Therapy Times’ 2009 MVP Awards
The most valuable products in the therapy industry
07.20.09
Article available online at:
http://www.therapytimes.com/MVP2009
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The ballots have been cast, the votes have been tallied, and the winners have been chosen for Therapy Times' 2009 Most Valuable Products awards competition!
In an effort to see what products were most useful to today's therapy professionals, we went right to the experts: You. From hundreds of helpful reader responses and nominations, we were able to compile a repertoire of products for each therapy community that have had the greatest influence on today’s therapy profession.
Once we had compiled our nominees, we opened the voting booths to our readers, associates, and visitors, to determine for themselves which tools, equipment, accessories were integral to the success of their field or practice. Now, after an anxious waiting period, Therapy Times is proud to present the 2009 Most Valuable Products awards for exemplary products in the therapy industry, backed by therapists’ recommendations and truly deserving of the title, “Therapy Times MVP.”
Click on your therapy community below to see the winners!
Physical Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Speech Language Pathology/Audiology
Nutrition
Respiratory Therapy
Nursing
Music Therapy
Physical Therapy
MVP 2009 Winner: NuStep TRS 4000 Recumbent Cross Trainer
Simulates a natural walking motion while eliminating undesirable joint stress and promoting functional fitness; ergonomic design accommodates various body types and sizes, and it includes a swivel seat for easy transfer.
“We nominate the NuStep TRS 4000 Recumbent Cross Trainer because it has been an invaluable rehabilitation tool for our clients who have had traumatic brain injuries. Our clients are at all levels of rehabilitation, from very acute to long-term management, and often have limited weight bearing, poor bilateral coordination and hemiplegia. With its many adjustments and accessories, the NuStep is often the first, or only, cardiovascular machine that can be attempted with our clients for a full body workout.”
– Rainbow Rehabilitation Physical Therapy Department
Click here for more information on this MVP Winner.
RUNNER-UP: LiteGait
A gait training device from Mobility Research that provides proper posture, reduces weight bearing, eliminates concerns for balance, and facilitates the training of coordinated lower extremity movement.
“The LiteGait is the essential tool for every stop in the continuum of care – providing hope for a wide variety of diagnosis. Patients with: SCI, CVA, CP, PD, MS, vestibulopathy, imbalance, pain, arthritis, neuropathy and more are aided to greater independence with the LiteGait. I additionally nominate the LiteGait because it allows my treatment to be both intense and safe at the same time. Evidence and experience make the LiteGait my MVP.”
– Mike Studer, PT, MHS, NCS, vice chair of the Balance and Falls SIG of the Geriatric Section of APTA, and former vice president of the Neurology Section of APTA.
RUNNER-UP: Pediatric/Infant Dynasplint® System
Splints indicated for range of motion therapy for pediatric and infant patients, for treatment of cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, fractures and dislocations.
“Dynasplint’s pediatric ankle dorsiflexion system is a great tool for increasing dorsiflexion range of motion. The system offers a prolonged stretch that is tolerated well while the child sleeps. Regular activities, including physical therapy, are able to be continued while using the splint system. In a recent case study, a 5-year old with cerebral palsy and ankle contracture wore the splint 6 to 8 hours while sleeping for four months. She gained 14 degrees of passive dorsiflexion. In addition, she was able to achieve flat foot contact instead of toe contact with gait, and gained the ability to single leg hop."
– Pamela Lundequam PT, DPT
Occupational Therapy
MVP 2009 Winner: NESS H200 Hand Rehabilitation System
This system from Bioness uses mild electrical stimulation to improve muscle rehabilitation and reduce complications, including muscle spasms. Designed to be easy to use and can be put on with just one hand.
“I use the H200 on many post-stroke patients and sees definite improvement in overall function and range of motion, contributing to greater independence."
– Julie Blum, MS, OTR/L, OT, Boca Raton Community Hospital (Davis Therapy Centers), Boca Raton, Fla.
Click here for more information on this MVP winner.
RUNNER-UP: SaeboFlex Orthosis
A mechanical upper extremity orthosis from Saebo, which provides assistance with hand release for patients with neurological impairments.
“I have been an occupational therapist for 19 years. I have worked across the continuum of patient care and in one of the top 10 rehabilitation hospitals in the country. I was introduced to Saebo approximately 3 years ago and it sparked an interest and excitement in me that I have not had for years. In my entire career I have not been so excited to work with a product nor have I been so impressed with the results."
“I have been able to witness pure excitement in my client’s faces when they are able to begin to move their arm/hand for the first time and regain functional movement. This is why I became a therapist: to help guide clients to reach their highest potential and increase their quality of life. Saebo prides itself on their customer/clinician relationship and have continually shown me support and immediate follow up with any of my questions. I have really enjoyed working with their products and staff."
– Karen Hookstadt, OTR, Occupational therapy supervisor at Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital
For more information on this MVP runner-up, please contact:
Email: HHoffman@saebo.com
Website: www.saebo.com
RUNNER-UP: The Vectra Genisys
A modular therapy system from Chattanooga that includes a laser therapy module or a battery module, mulitple waveform electrotherapy, 4 independent electrotherapy channels, and sEMG and sEMG activated muscle stimulation.
"The Vectra Genisys Therapy System is the only device to provide all major modalities needed in the clinic: Electrotherapy, Ultrasound, Combination, Laser, sEMG, and sEMG Activated Muscle Stimulation. Unique modular design lets you choose what best fits in your clinical setting now or can be easily added later without the replacement of products. Vectra Genisys’ award-winning design makes the Therapy System both intuitive to use and efficient for purchasing."
– Sarah Powe, OTR
Speech Language Pathology/Audiology
MVP 2009 Winner: Advanced Bionics' TuneUps®
Developed by music and speech therapy professionals, this music CD and habilitation program engages children in a listening, language, and learning experience.
“TuneUps has also given us a way to include our parents into a weekly music time. Parents are staying at school an extra thirty minutes so they learn the songs and participate in their child's therapy. This has given the therapists time to talk about goals that include vocabulary from the songs or speech or audition skills that parents can work on at home."
“As certified speech-language pathologists and listening and spoken
language specialists, TuneUps has given our staff an excellent way to
incorporate music into our therapy, and we have found it to be a highly effective tool in helping our children reach their speech, language, and audition goals."
– The W. Paul Biggers MD Carolina Children's Communicative Disorders Program in the department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.
Click here for more information about this MVP winner.
RUNNER-UP: Pirate Talk®
A receptive and expressive language game from Super Duper Publications, participants are motivated by the “pirate” theme to answer questions and discuss social situations presented on the game cards.
“I would like to nominate Pirate Talk® by Super Duper® Publications as this year’s most outstanding, comprehensive language game. With a shrinking budget and increasing caseload, it’s difficult to find products to meet the diverse needs of my students. The range of language tasks it targets makes it easy for me to use with a variety of students. My students eagerly answer questions and discuss social situations presented on the game cards. They are motivated by the captivating 'pirate' theme to answer questions in hopes of advancing to the nearest island to collect 'gold' coins. Pirate Talk® exceeded my expectations about what a language game should be.”
– Lisa Gulbranson, MS CCC-SLP, at the Elgin Independent School District in Elgin, TX
RUNNER-UP: Virtual Office
This product from America Hears is intended to lower the cost of and increase the ease of use of hearing aids by enabling the user to make the needed adjustments (program changes) to the hearing aids themselves; connects hearing aids through a personal computer to America Hears audiologists and hearing aid specialists.
“America Hears’ Virtual Office is designed to lower the cost and increase the ease of use of hearing aids by enabling the user to do things themselves that historically have been done by audiologists and fitters. Hearing aid adjustments need to take into account the user’s lifestyle and personal preferences. The adjustments often require multiple visits to the hearing professional’s office, which can be inconvenient. Many people never reach the level of satisfaction they are seeking."
“America Hears’ Virtual Office changes that by giving the user control over their hearing and the freedom to conveniently make adjustments.
Virtual Office includes the hardware and software for the user to make adjustments themselves or to connect with our servers enabling the owner to download adjustments created by our audiologist directly into their hearing aids when and where they choose."
– Kelly Malick, MS, FAAA, an audiologist at America Hears
Nutrition
MVP 2009 Winner: Smart Balance Omega® Buttery Spread
A special combination of flax and fish oils to add Vitamin E to a patient's diet, along with its patented blend of vegetable oils can help improve cholesterol ratios.
“Smart Balance Omega® Buttery Spread is an excellent choice for a Therapy Times MVP award. It combines a delicious buttery flavor and creamy texture that people love with heart-healthy qualities that people are looking for in a spread. It is a great alternative to butter. Not only can I serve it at the table, but can also cook with it. I have great results when using it in baking as a substitute for butter. As a health professional, I like that it is has no trans fats and is naturally free of hydrogenated oils. Smart Balance Omega uses a special combination of flax and fish oils to add Vitamin E to one's diet, and its patented blend of vegetable oils can help improve cholesterol ratios."
– Tammi Hancock, RD
Click here for more information about this MVP winner.
RUNNER-UP: Proteinex-18
Liquid predigested protein from Llorens Pharmaceuticals that has been broken down to its amino acid portions to provide patients with the highest concentration of protein in a small dose. Does not contain sugar, fat, phosphorus, carbohydrates, lactose or gluten, and therefore, can be administered to patients with different conditions like gastric bypass, wound care, HIV, cancer, or general malnutrition.
“Cancer facility staff knows that 'Food is Medicine.' The cancer may be only 5 percent of the body. But, the treatment affects 100 percent of the body. Treatments cause fatigue, poor healing and depression. Research suggests well nourished patients experience cancer therapies with fewer side effects. Registered dietitians know that nutrition interventions result in less complications and better quality of life for the patient."
“Proteinex-18 provides quality protein that can be easily added to food. There is no tiresome cooking or chewing. The liquid predigested essential amino acids are better absorbed and promote healing without increasing blood sugars. Additionally, methionine and phenylalanine play a role in the production of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. These amino acids enhance mood and mental alertness. Because it comes in individual bottles, there is no cooking only adding.
For these reasons, we offer Proteinex 18 with confidence. This product can truly help those who are too weak to help themselves nutritionally."
– Karon M. Rzad RD LDN CDE LSMC, integrated medicine practitioner
RUNNER-UP: Robot Coupe® Blixer
This product from Robot Coupe performs as two machines in one – food processor and blender – which prepares liquidized foods, and able to chop, grind, puree,and emulsify.
“As a registered dietitian, I have been working in long term care and senior living for many years. The Robot Coupe Blixer is the specifically designed to puree foods to the purest and smoothest texture. Many times when residents with dementia are given a puree diet, the resident will spit out of their mouth even the smallest particles of food. The Blixer will puree foods to the texture of baby food which eliminates fine particles. Many foods with hulls and skins will leave particles in the mixture when pureed with a conventional blender, but this is not the case with the Blixer. Green peas, corn and even tomatoes are no problem for this work horse.
The Blixer is easy to operate, easy to clean and allows the operator to sharpen the blades themselves thus reducing the costs of replacing worn out parts. The Robot Coupe Blixer is built to withstand the wear and tear of commercial foodservice operations. I have found that the Blixer is the only blender that I recommend based on my years of experience in foodservice operations."
– Donna Crotts, MS, RD
Respiratory Therapy
MVP 2009 Winner: RespirTech Incourage Clearance System
Designed and engineered by RespirTech to administer rapid but gentle compressive forces via the inflatable jacket to the chest to produce oscillations within the airways for patients with a medical necessity for assisted secretion clearance.
One afternoon Rob Lambert introduced me to the RespirTech inCourage Airway Clearance System for high frequency chest compression. Max was a perfect candidate. His mom now uses the system up to five times a day. Best of all, Max was back to his old happy self just two weeks after regular use on the inCourage System. His mom assured me the device made all the difference."
– Laura Harvey, CPNP, and Chuck Stevens, RT-1, from the Medical University of South Carolina
Click here from more information about this MVP winner.
RUNNER-UP: The Eclipse 2
Ambulatory oxygen system from Sequal Technologies which includes a telescoping-handled cart for easy mobility, and automatically reverts to continuous flow when no breath is detected.
"The Eclipse 2 represents a unique technology for the 24/7 administration of long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT), which is prescribed for patients having severe hypoxemia secondary to COPD. Evidence based research has repeatedly shown that properly dosed LTOT, especially when coupled with daily scheduled walking, reduces COPD exacerbations, improves survival and enhances quality of life.
Weighing only 17 pounds, the Eclipse 2 is an easily transportable oxygen concentrator capable of providing both stationary (continuous flow up to 3 L/min) and ambulatory (pulse dose up to 96 mL/breath) oxygen therapy. The Eclipse 2 can be powered by AC household current, a DC current in motor vehicles, or by a rechargeable battery.
The Eclipse 2 enables COPD patients to go wherever they want, whenever they want and however they want to travel without ever having to worry about their greatest fear – 'running out of oxygen'. To say that Eclipse 2 has changed the lives of many COPD patients is an understatement!"
– Patrick J. Dunne, MEd, RRT, FAARC
RUNNER-UP:
Tracheostomy Ventilator Swallowing and Speaking Valve
The only speaking valve that can be used interchangeably on or off the ventilator for pediatrics and adults. This product from Passy-Muir offers ventilator dependent patients the opportunity to speak uninterrupted without having to wait for the ventilator to cycle.
“I recently had my first experience with the ventilator application of the Passy-Muir® Valve (PMV) on a young person with Gillain Barre’ Syndrome. She tolerated the PMV on the first trial, was able to ventilate adequately, manage her secretions and communicate with the staff and her family without difficulty. I believe the use of the PMV enhanced her quality of life while in the ICU and positively impacted her recovery.”
– Laurie Otterstrom, RN, Hilton Head Hospital in Hilton Head, SC.
Nursing
MVP 2009 Winner: Exergen Temporal Scanner Thermometer™
A non-invasive system from Exergen Corporation with patented software, providing arterial heat balance, determining temperature by measuring the balance between the tissues warming from arterial blood and tissues cooling caused by heat loss.
 “I noticed how easy it is for me and how comfortable it is for the patients. Because the TemporalScanner is so non-invasive and gentle, we can use it on sleeping patients without disturbing them. The forehead scan takes two seconds making the process painless for nurses and patients alike. I later learned a study had been conducted at nearby Boston Children’s Hospital, which showed TemporalScanner readings are as accurate as rectal thermometers.”
“Maintenance is a breeze because the head of the thermometer cleans easily with a swipe of alcohol and does not require additional disposable covers, saving time, money and waste. In a nutshell, the TemporalScanner is giving health professionals peace of mind through its accuracy, precision, and added attention to the quality of patient care and comfort.”
– Linda Ciampa RN
Click here for more information on this MVP Winner.
RUNNER-UP: EasyStand Evolv Glider
Designed for active standing that provides lower body range of motion and upper body strengthening. Unlike passive gliders, the active standing Glider allows users to move the glide handles with their arms (or a caregiver can assist) which creates a reciprocal movement in the legs.
"The Evolv Glider is used extensively at Project Walk with our spinal cord injured clients. The design allows us to easily transfer any client into it with minimal exertion. Once in the Evolv, the range of adjustability lets us safely stand 99 percent of our clients. At Project Walk, we not only use it as a standing frame and an active/passive range-of-motion device, but we also use it as a load bearing workout platform. The ability to easily remove the glider handles gives us the option to perform different types of upper body strength and stability exercises while in a vertically loaded position. The high adjustability also allows us to use it with our higher functioning clients to execute squats and exercises for their core. The Easystand Evolv Glider is definitely Project Walk’s Most Valuable Product.”
– Eric Harness, CSCS, CSRS III, co-founder and director of research and development for Project Walk® Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Center.
RUNNER-UP: Twiddle Muff
A tactile therapeutic muff with attachments including a sealed satin bag with marbles, a strand of textured ribbons, a loop of colorful wooden beads, and a pocket for personal essentials and a velcro tab patch. In addition to tactile and mental stimulation, this offers exercise for the hands and relief from arthritis.
"We have been using the TwiddleMuffs at my facility for more than 2 years. Our low functioning residents enjoy the cozy fabric and the variety of tactile stimulation gadgets, especially the stress ball attached inside. It keeps cold hands warm and busy so makes it ideal for those with dementia, arthritis and stroke recovery issues. One resident, in particular, uses the stress ball to continue her occupational therapy many more hours after the therapist is gone.
"We’re very particular about hygiene and so being able to machine wash and dry the TwiddleMuffs makes it easy. Ideally, each of our residents would have their own TwiddleMuff and then they wouldn’t have to be envious of others. This is such a fantastic, multi-purpose, low-tech solution to keep the frailest individual content, I can only wonder why they weren’t invented sooner!”
– Pat Benda, RNC, director of nursing at The Scottish Home.
Click here for more information about this MVP runner-up.
Music Therapy
MVP 2009 Winner:
Vertical Hand Drum/Tambourine Attachment
A music instrument attachment – made available through A Day's Work Music Education – designed for patients with restricted mobility, allowing wheelchair-bound to participate in music therapy without assistance.
The Vertical Hand Drum/Tambourine Attachment attaches to a wheelchair/table clamp (also available from A Day's Work). A frame drum or tambourine is held securely in place. One version of the attachment comes with a spring that can hold a mallet. The Vertical Hand Drum/Tambourine Attachment is meticulously made, highly durable, and capable of taking intense use. It is highly portable and manipulable. At the same time, can be easily immobilized when you want it to stay in place.”
– Bill Matney, MA, MT-BC
Lewisville Independent School District
Adjunct Lecturer, Texas Woman's University
Click here for more information about this MVP winner.
RUNNER-UP: Apple's "GarageBand" Application
Patients are able to plug a USB music keyboard into their Mac computers and receive instant access to over 100 realistic software instruments – pianos, strings, drums, guitars, horns – and create new tracks to explore with their therapists.
"Apple's 'GarageBand' program has made recording sessions/music as easy as the click of a button. This easy, user-friendly program comes pre-loaded on Mac's and opens a whole world of recording, mixing, effects, and creation options to the consumer. This software is quite popular among not only among the music therapy world but with musicians and lay-people as this program is reliable, accessible, and simple."
– Devon Kehler, MT-BC
RUNNER-UP: K-Box
Therapists are able to create a portable music therapy environment as the K-box from Kerchoonz.com is compact and connects to any mp3 player, laptop, or mobile phone, to convert any surface into a loudspeaker with bass.
"Something new to the field that I think has got a lot of potential to change the way we use music therapy is the K-Box. Using special ‘gel audio technology’, this handheld speaker can bring people out from the seclusion of their headphones and share their music with me, just by using any flat surface. We're not shut out anymore, but sharing a musical experience, working primarily on the rhythm and vibrations of the music. Even better, I've found that clients enjoy changing between different flat surfaces I have in my office because it changes the frequencies of the vibrations – wood, metal, or plastic tables can all be very interesting amplifiers.”
– Ryan Thames, MT-BC
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Linda Pippert, MA, CCC-SLP discusses opportunities available with AlphaVista Services, a multinational corporation providing Special Educational and Allied Healthcare programs and services worldwide. AlphaVista operates pediatric speech therapy/occupational therapy clinics and intervention centers in the United States and India.
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