Sarah hiking the West Coast Trail in 2007

May is a month that represents transformation for me …in self, nature and SideStix. In May 1973, I lost my leg to a drunk driver and in May 1985, I summited Mt. McKinley on the first snowshoe-attachment prototype. In 2004, May heralded the first official field test of SideStix on the 500 mile trek ‘Camino de Santiago’ in Northern Spain.

On May 18th I will take part in the ‘Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay’. I feel this is a significant way to commemorate the milestones in my life and in SideStix, with a positive light and positive people, on a device that has taken me far.

Forearm Crutches

Also known as Lofstrand or Canadian crutches, forearm crutches offer a good balance between ease-of-use, mobility, and weight-bearing capability. Due to their flexibility, these crutches are the most common choice for people who have a permanent mobility challenge and are the primary choice of walking device for those living in European countries.

Who They’re For

Forearm crutches are ideal for anyone needing a flexible mobility device designed for weight-bearing. Because of their shorter profile, these crutches are generally a more appropriate choice for quadruped walkers than underarm crutches. SideStix are leading the way in this category as the only manufacturer that includes a damper shock system and a series of attachments for outdoor use.

Benefits

• Can fully support a user’s weight
• Less cumbersome than many other mobility options
• Appropriate for many different crutch walking styles (gaits) More info on different gaits here
• Appropriate for many outdoor activities such as hiking, snowshoeing, soccer, etc.
• Some models break down for easy portability
• Specific models have ergonomic support built into the design

Drawbacks

• Harder to learn to use than underarm crutches, as they require more forearm strength
• May not provide enough support for people with balance issues
• Lower-end models can cause over-use injuries such as carpal tunnel and tennis elbow

Underarm Crutches

These are the long wooden crutches used frequently by people with short-term injuries, especially in North America. Because they are relatively easy to use, many people prefer these to other mobility devices when their recovery time is very short.

Benefits

• Can fully support a users weight
• Easy to learn to use
• Inexpensive and easily available in North America

Drawbacks

• May not provide enough balance support for people with balance issues
• Not appropriate for many outdoor activities
• Have been shown to compress nerves in the underarm area with prolonged use
• More awkward to use in tight spaces than a cane or crutch
• Can cause over-use injuries such as carpal tunnel, tennis elbow, or frozen shoulder

Walking Sticks

Walking sticks are used by a variety of people such as long-distance walkers and hikers, and are quite common in Europe. Walking sticks are gaining popularity worldwide as a way to reduce weight on lower extremities by transferring some weight to the user’s hands.

Benefits

• Can support 15%-20% of a user’s weight, depending on grip
• Lightweight and inexpensive
• Considered an ‘outdoor recreational device’ and not a medical mobility device
• Break down easy for travelling
• Help improve balance

Drawbacks

• Straps can cause strain on a user’s wrist
• Not designed for true weight-bearing
• May not provide enough support for people with balance issues

Walkers

Walkers are used by people who need a wider base of support in their mobility device. These are generally prescribed to people who have severe balance issues in addition to their mobility issues.

Benefits

• Can fully support a user’s weight
• Two-wheeled options still support a normal gait (walking) pattern
• Provides the best support for people with severe balance issues
• Most have a built-in seat and basket for help users sit and rest or carry items
• Four-wheeled walkers can help encourage certain people to exercise when crutches and canes are not a good fit

Drawbacks

• Slower than other mobility options
• Cumbersome when going up stairs, on public transit, getting around the home and engaging with people, etc.
• Not appropriate for any outdoor activities except for those that take place on smooth, urban surfaces

Canes

Who They’re For

Canes are for generally meant for people that do not have significant mobility problems and do not need to weight-bear. Because they cannot be depended on to bear weight, they can be a good choice for someone who wants to regain their balance and not rely too heavily on their mobility aid.

Benefits

• Helps improve balance
• Less cumbersome than many other mobility options
• Easy to use
• Inexpensive and many personalization options

Drawbacks

• Not designed for weight-bearing
• May not provide enough balance support for people with balance issues

The main benefit that all of these options have in common is that they enable people to get out and be as active as they want to be. So there it is, a quick list that hopefully answers some questions. As always, if you are planning on adopting a mobility device for any extended length of time you should talk to a health professional.

Both sides showed tremendous grit and heart.
Photo courtesy of Carl Calabria, 2012.

The amputee soccer game between the U.S. and Mexico national teams was a rousing success. The match, which took place in Mazatlan on April 14th, saw the U.S. squeak out a 2-1 victory over a very determined, physical Mexican team. People watching the game marveled at its intensity and physicality. “I can’t believe how fast these guys are, or how physical,” said one fan.

Nico Calabria, one of the original SideStix field testers, scored the first U.S. goal off a beautiful header at the 10-minute mark. Veteran Dan Broome scored off of a free kick at the 20-minute mark to give the U.S. the eventual game-winner.

Photo courtesy of Carl Calabria, 2012.

SideStix generated a great deal of interest from both clubs, and we are working on ways to equip both sides with SideStix sometime in the near future.

The game was well-attended and the fans were on their feet for most of the match. In the end, it was a rousing success for both amputee soccer as a sport, and for the players, family and friends involved. Both sides showed a mutual admiration and respect for each other, and look forward to meeting each other again on the pitch.

The U.S. Amputee Soccer Association website has a full recap here.

The match will take place in Mazatlan and will be the first match for the U.S. team under their new coach Roy Howell. He has coached a variety of programs and is currently also an assistant coach for the Lawrence Technological University soccer team.

Don Bennett, an amputee living in Seattle, first invented amputee soccer in 1980. While walking to his car, a basketball came rolling towards Bennett. Instead of picking up the ball and throwing it back, he raised himself up on his crutches and kicked it back to the boy who had dropped it. Within a few years, the first amputee soccer team was created under the Seattle Handicapped Sports and Recreation Association. SideStix co-founder Sarah Doherty was a member of this inaugural team! It remained a Seattle-area activity until 1997 when another competitive team was started in Philadelphia. There are now 15 internationally recognized amputee soccer teams, with more soon to come.

Sidestix wishes all of the players in Saturday’s game the best of luck!

The entire PAC team achieved the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro at Gilman’s Point as planned on 7 Feb 2012. Six of us (Abby, Maria, Christine, Karen, Kim and Curtis), climbed past Gilman’s Point and went onward to the highest summit, called Uhuru Peak. Uhuru Peak is 200m higher than Gilman’s Point and took and extra 2 hours of climbing to reach.

From Kibo Huts, the team took between 10-12 hours to ascend and then descend from the summit. It was a balmy -35 Celsius at the top with a horrid wind-chill. Between wind burns, frost bite, lack of oxygen and fatigue we all managed to survive this incredible undertaking. I can admit that along the way all of us had moments of doubt. But doubt is simply our inner will telling us that we have yet to push ourselves to the limit and that there is still more of us to give. It’s human nature to want to take the easy way out, and doubt gives us an excuse to bail! None of us caved to that doubt though, and I am so very proud of what we accomplished. There were many very fit people that did not make it to the first summit – almost 25%. We took our time, we supported one another, and we made it through together.

All of us experienced wind burn and/or frost bite to varying degrees. I think I got the worst of the frost bite as it took me 2 1/2 hours longer to complete my climb because my prosthetic leg (hydraulics) froze after about 6 1/2 hours in the -35 temperature. It still worked just fine – but was awfully stiff – making parts of the final ascent and then subsequent descent rather onerous.

We used SideStix for both the ascent and descent. Everyone had wonderful feedback about them. I will send more detailed information when I have a moment to sit down and review my notes. I love my SideStix and they are without a doubt the best crutch on the market today. I am truly glad that they are Canadian.

Once again, our many thanks to all of you for your support to PAC. It’s truly appreciated. Amazing things can happen with community support and the will to make a difference.

Cheers,

Captain Kimberly Fawcett (centre)

I won’t reveal the specific details – because that would spoil the surprise,suffice it to say that Sarah, Bruce & myself all used SideStix and went on a pretty arduous hike!

This was the first time that I had used SideStix for an extended period of time, and even though my knees always hurt after a long hike – I was convinced that traditional hiking poles were ‘good enough’ for me.

The revelation that I had during (and after!) this particular hike, was that my knees didn’t hurt, and I realized that SideStix are tools that can help me enjoy an activity that I love by spreading the load to my upper body. By allowing me to significantly reduce the weight on my knees, the pain that traditionally ‘accompanied’ me during and after a hike – was nowhere to be found!

Now it feels completely natural for me to ‘Pick up my Stix’ to go on a hike…it just took a little ‘mental adjustment’ to consider SideStix as a tool – not a ‘crutch’.

If you ever want to try some SideStix to take the load off your knees, we would be happy to send some to you, and as we have a 30 day money back guarantee, you can always return them, if you find that they don’t work for you.

It’s worth asking yourself the same question that Dave Troughton, a Physiotherapist from Victoria, BC, asks his clients “Do you want to walk farther and in less pain?” SideStix allows you to fully weight bear, whilst protecting your joints through correct positioning and shock absorption.

By Kerith Perreur-Lloyd

Fawcett made history when she became the first Canadian soldier amputee to return to a war zone since the Korean war and she hopes to make history again when she stands on top of Mount Kilimanjaro and launches her new charity ParAthletes of Canada (PAC).

“Kids living with missing or amputated limbs should participate in sports from the sports field just like everyone else and not from the sidelines,” Fawcett said.

The Coast’s Abilee Kellett is no stranger to climbing and she will be summiting Mount Kilimanjaro next week along with amputee Kimberly Fawcett in order to launch a new children’s charity from the mountain top.

Her new charity will help children with amputations compete and actively participate in sport.

Fawcett said she’s heard from many child amputees about improperly fitting limbs and inadequate equipment that is impeding mobility.

“I am tired of hearing about the complaints which are widespread across Canada, so I decided to do something about it,” she said.

To help bring attention to her new charity, Fawcett set up the climb, which will include eight other women, some fellow amputees and soldiers, who are set to leave Feb. 1.

Kellett first heard about Fawcett through her mom Sarah Doherty, who is the inventor of SideStix sports crutches.

The two women were acquaintances, but had never met.

So when Fawcett came to Kellett’s university to talk about being an athlete with a disability, Kellett took the opportunity to meet her face to face.

“I went to meet her because I was interested and my mom knew her but hadn’t met her yet, so it was a good way to make the connection,” Kellett said.

Kellett and Fawcett went for lunch and soon formed a bond.

“She’s great. Kim is really amazing. Her story and everything that she’s been through and what she’s done for so many other people — it’s a pretty awesome thing, so it’s hard not to bond with her,” Kellett said.

When she heard about Fawcett’s upcoming climb and the reason for it she was enthusiastic and wanted to be a part of it.

Fawcett was planning to use SideStix for part of her journey and needed someone knowledgeable about the crutches to come along.

“I’ve learned all about them, how to take them apart and how to fix things that can go wrong, so basically I’m going to go with some spare parts on this trip and a few of [the climbers] will be using SideStix. I’m just there sort of like their technician,” Kellett said.

“But mostly I just wanted to sign up for the adventure. It sounded like a really cool thing, and Kim’s organization PAC is also really cool, so it just all worked out that I could be a part of it.”

Kellett leaves Vancouver on an early morning flight to Ottawa on Jan. 31 where she will meet up with the rest of the crew bound for Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

Christine Wood

© Copyright 2012, Coast Reporter
Story URL: http://www.coastreporter.net/article/20120130/SECHELT0101/301309999/special-summit-has-coast-connection

These short videos provide a brief overview of what you can expect when you receive your SideStix and attachments. They also guide you through the process of setting up your SideStix as quickly as possible.

If you still have questions, our product knowledge team would be happy to help you. Just visit our Contact page!

Discovery

Boundless

Crutch Attachments Overview

SideStix has always been about removing boundaries. Nico Calabria uses both the SideStix Boundless Pro forearm crutch and the SideStix Discovery Pro forearm crutch – depending upon his activities.

In this video Nico pushes his SideStix to the limits, performing unimaginable parkour stunts as well as showcasing his soccer skills. Watch Nico sprint, jump and leap his way over a variety of obstacles and make precision shots on net!

Nico is one of the original SideStix testers and an amazing kid, so take a moment to share. Remember to thumbs-up his video if you enjoyed watching (located on the bottom left of the YouTube video).

We look forward to more videos from Nico and hope this inspires others to send in their own SideStix clips, regardless of ability!