Last week while the APTA was in New Orleans, leaders had the opportunity to participate in a service project working with Habitat for Humanity in the 9^th Ward.  APTA put together a video of the project and two of our wonderful SA leaders – Katherine Baucom and Alison Seger of Sheltering Arms – are interviewed in the video.

The following release was issued on November 9 by Sheltering Arms:

Richmond, Virginia (November 9, 2010) – A new breakthrough in rehabilitative therapy that’s designed to help patients regain the ability to walk is now available for patient use at Sheltering Arms Rehabilitation Hospital in Hanover County, VA, marking the first field implementation of the pioneering device anywhere in the country.

The first-of-its-kind device – called ZeroG – is the world’s most advanced body weight support system for overground walking and balance training. Sheltering Arms is the first health system in the nation to purchase and install the device. The system allows a patient to walk unencumbered across the room and keeps them safe from falls. Therapists are able to make adjustments from the patient’s side, using an iPod Touch that is connected wirelessly to the ZeroG.

ZeroG was developed by Bioness Inc., the Valencia, Calif.-based company that is recognized as the leading research and development firm in the field of rehabilitative technologies. The technology allows patients to begin intensive physical rehabilitation and weight-bearing exercises at the earliest possible stage in their recovery. It was developed and tested at the National Rehab Institute in Washington, D.C.

In addition to incorporating ZeroG into its regimen of rehabilitative care, Sheltering Arms will serve as a demonstration, education and training site, working with Bioness researchers and support staff on an ongoing basis.

“Sheltering Arms has had a longstanding commitment in embracing new and emerging technologies in rehabilitative care,” said James E. Sok, president and CEO of Sheltering Arms. “We are not only excited by the promise that ZeroG holds for our patients, but we are particularly proud to be selected by Bioness as the nation’s first implementer of this breakthrough device. We also look forward to serving as a regional training site for this and other new technologies as well as growing our partnership with Bioness, a firm that is a well respected leader in rehabilitative innovation.”

ZeroG uses an overhead track system with a sophisticated robotic trolley that is coupled to a high-tech harness. The system allows for precise reduction of a portion of the patient’s body weight that a trained therapist can adjust using a wireless interface. This results in a much broader array of possible therapeutic interventions and more normal movement despite weakness or disability. Training under these conditions allows earlier more aggressive walking therapy, while eliminating the risk of patient falls. Therapists are free to instruct, observe, or apply their own hands-on facilitation. The ZeroG is a perfect fit for the innovative programs at Sheltering Arms and is another example of the commitment to help patients find the power to overcome.

More information on ZeroG can be found on the Bioness website at this link: http://bit.ly/9AfeWv. High resolution images and b-roll video of the ZeroG in action are available by request.

About Sheltering Arms
Sheltering Arms helps patients find the Power to Overcome the obstacles of illness and injury with a complete range of physical rehabilitation and wellness services. To learn more about Sheltering Arms’ two hospitals and eight outpatient clinics visit http://www.ShelteringArms.com, call 1-877-56-REHAB, or connect with Sheltering Arms on Facebook and Twitter.

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Dr. Hawkins is interviewed by WRIC-TV reporter Amy Lacey.

Tune into WRIC Channel 8 on Monday, January 4th! Sheltering Arms Medical Director, Dr. Hillary Hawkins, will be featured in the Medical Minute segment during the 6:00 News with important information about osteoporosis and bone fracture prevention.

Also, on Sunday, January 24th at 6:30 a.m., you can catch a 30-minute radio interview with Sheltering Arms personal trainers and fitness members on Big Oldies 107.3. They will be talking about getting off to a healthy start in the New Year and what makes the Sheltering Arms pool/fitness center a great place to get in shape! They will also discuss the FREE fitness evaluations Sheltering Arms is offering in January. You won’t want to miss it!

Sheltering Arms recently unveiled a newly remodeled outpatient clinic on the campus of the Memorial Regional Medical Center in Hanover County. The administrative departments vacated this space over the summer, when they moved to the new headquarters in Henrico County. Shortly following the move, demolition and construction began to convert the space into an optimally planned therapy and physician clinic.

The new Hanover Rehabilitation Center offers expanded physician clinic space, where four Sheltering Arms Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physicians see patients by appointment. Additionally, outpatient orthopaedic physical therapy services moved from another medical office building on this campus into this freshly remodeled space. The physical therapy area includes private treatment rooms and a spacious therapy gym with the latest equipment. The new clinic not only allows for smooth and efficient communication among clinicians, but also convenient and easily accessible services for Sheltering Arms patients.

Sheltering Arms has been ALL OVER the TV this month.  The third airing of The Power to Overcome documentary was this past weekend on channel 6.  Also, Sheltering Arms superstar patient Jamaal Williams was on channel 6 last week talking about the documentary and his recovery from stroke.  Tomorrow morning, there will once again be talk of Sheltering Arms on the television!

Ms. Wheelchair Virginia, Joan Manley of Lexington (seen to the right), will appear for a live interview on WRIC TV-8 during the 9 a.m. hour tomorrow.  She’ll be talking about, among other things, the reason she’s in town.  Ms. Manley is one of our honored guests at tonight’s Celebration of the Power to Overcome gala at the Jefferson Hotel.

Ms. Manley knows all too well what it takes to overcome disability.  She is a spinal cord injury quadriplegic due to an automobile accident. She works with numerous organizations, boards, and is a part-time Advocacy Specialist with VAIL Center for Independent Living.  She speaks regularly for local groups about living with a disability while promoting accessibility for all in her community.

Don’t miss her appearance!

Can you guess where the below picture was taken?

If you guessed the set of Channel 6 (CBS) in Richmond, you are correct!  This photo was taken yesterday (September 15) during the interview with Jamaal Williams and his mother Daisy on the station’s Virginia This Morning program.  Jamaal, a former Virginia Union University football player, discussed his recovery (with Sheltering Arms’ help) from a stroke he suffered at the age of 28.   The interview will be posted in its entirety on our website very soon.  Jamaal is one of the incredible patients featured in the Sheltering Arms documentary, The Power to Overcome, airing this month on three area TV stations.

The final airing of the documentary is coming up on Saturday, September 19 on Channel 6.  Don’t miss it!

Be sure to tune in to WTVR, channel 6, from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, September 15! Sheltering Arms physical therapy superstar Jamaal Williams (seen in the picture to the left) and his mother, Daisy, will appear for a live interview during that time, on the station’s “Virginia This Morning” program.

Jamaal and his mother will be talking about the hard work he and his therapists put in to help him recover from a stroke he suffered at the age of 28. We’re very proud of Jamaal and we love to share him with the world!

Jamaal is also one of the subjects of the Sheltering Arms documentary, The Power to Overcome.

Did you see the airing of the Sheltering Arms documentary, “The Power to Overcome”, last night on WRIC, channel 8? If so, please give us your feedback! We’re aware there was a bit of an issue with the quality. This was related to equipment at WRIC that played back the video.

If you missed the airing last night, you have two more chances! The next airing is on WWBT, channel 12 on Saturday, September 12 at 7:00 p.m. We’re assured that the program will air in its full high definition glory!