Since human bodies—and the orthotic and prosthetic care they sometimes need—aren't always "standard issue," John Scott goes the extra mile to find solutions.
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| Dana Bowman with John Scott. |
Scott, owner of New Options Sports Inc., Dallas, Texas, has differentiated his company from competitors and thrived in a challenging market by providing innovative designs and skilled custom work. He stands out from others by providing quality custom orthoses, even if it means losing money on them. Could this strategy also benefit O&P facilities?
Scott explains that custom sleeves and orthoses "are loss leaders. We do them as a service." Thus, the company only does custom work for regular customers who also purchase prefabricated products. However, he finds a strong non-monetary reward in simply meeting a design and materials challenge—and helping athletes achieve their dreams.
Scott has been making orthopedic and sports medical-related neoprene braces and supports for 30 years. New Options Sports also offers prosthetic suspension sleeves and other products. All New Options Sports devices are made in Dallas, and the company can provide 24-hour turnaround service for custom braces. "When someone needs a suspension sleeve or a brace, they do not need it in a month—they need it yesterday!" he observes.
Dana Bowman's Suspension Sleeve
One high-profile client is Dana Bowman, a retired Sergeant First Class, US Army, where he was a Special Forces solder and member of the Army's elite parachute team, the Golden Knights. In 1994, both Bowman's legs were severed in a midair collision with a fellow parachutist, Jose Aguillon, who was killed instantly in the impact. Bowman made history when he became the first bilateral amputee to reenlist in the Army, skydiving with his commander into the reenlistment ceremony.
Bowman appreciates how skilled O&P care and specialized componentry have helped him accomplish his goals.
This is where New Options Sports comes in. Among the components is the company's Double Pre-flexed™ Suspension Sleeve, which prevents slipping and pistoning, and retains suction due to its special material and design. "It has really done a good job; in fact Dana helped design it," says Scott. "He needs really heavy-duty suspension sleeves. He wanted special material, a little stiffer to accommodate his situation when jumping. When that chute opens, you go from 150 mph to nothing, and you want that leg secure. Dana didn't want his leg slipping off and getting to the ground first!"
Scott adds, "And now this sleeve is available for everyone who wants it."
Bowman also does heavy equipment work and has recently built a swimming pool. "So he is on his knees a lot," Scott explains. "If you are on your knees a lot and don't have a pad, it's really difficult. We now have a suspension sleeve with an optional knee pad. This works well for carpet layers, cabinetmakers, and others—and for anyone who works or plays hard."
Meeting Kids' Needs
New Options Sports also fills a need that Scott saw in pediatric orthopedics. He found out that prosthetists at a Shriners Hospital were cutting down small-size adult suspension sleeves for youngsters, since no one was making them specifically for pediatric patients. "So we came up with a complete line of pediatric suspension sleeves, and of course, we do custom as well," says Scott.
Athletes' Appreciation
New Options Sports has been providing custom and non-custom orthotic solutions for the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, since 1981, along with the Winter Sports Training Center in Lake Placid, New York, and the most recent Training Center in Chula Vista, California, established in 1995. Another organization for which Scott is proud to supply orthotic needs is the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
Do these organizations appreciate New Options Sports? A letter Scott received from Bill Norris on behalf of the ATP said in part, "...We have found that New Options products are ideal in terms of providing maximum support and comfort to an injured area while still allowing complete freedom in movement. We have yet to find an injury that New Options cannot fit with a support..."
So has its custom work been worthwhile for New Options Sports? The answer would have to be "Yes!"
