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From the Editor
By Miki Fairley  Take a mind-bending journey through the world of
tomorrow's practitioner in the feature article, "Today's
Dreams, Tomorrow's Reality in O&P Technology," by Paul
Prusakowski, CPO, FAAOP. What's amazing is that most of the
technology is available today. One that isn't yet ready in a
practical way, but can make your imagination soar, is being able to
shape a prosthesis with the help of a holographic projection
monitor providing an incredibly lifelike representation of the
residual limb.
NBA Star Rip' Hamilton's Famous Facemask
Many sports fans saw the Detroit Pistons rout the LA Lakers
100-87 in Game 5 of the NBA Championship Finals to take home
Motown's first NBA title in 14 years. And one of the "heroes" of
the game was Detroit forward Rip Hamilton's clear protective
facemask which enabled him to continue playing after nasal
fractures and reconstructive surgery. Read the behind-the-scenes
story of Hamilton's mask and its creator, Jerry McHale, CO, in "The Man
Behind the Mask," by Meredy Fullen.
Better Hand Orthoses
The use of low-temperature thermoplastics in hand
splints/orthoses has greatly improved patient care in this area.
Previously, therapists and orthotists had used leather, metal, and
high-temperature plastics, which required significant fabrication
time and generally several patient visits and fittings. With the
advent of low-temperature thermoplastics, the splint/orthosis could
be molded to the patient and completed in just one visit. Judy C.
Colditz, OTR/L, CHT, FAOTA, discusses the current
state of the art in this issue.
Lightweight Breast Prostheses
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The number of new
cases of breast cancer has increased by about 1 percent per year in
the US since about the 1940s and has only recently shown signs of
leveling off, notes the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (
www.komen.org).
An estimated 216,000 new cases will be diagnosed in American women
in 2004 alone. However, the foundation notes that, when detected
early, breast tumors are almost 100-percent treatable.
And more options in breast forms and prostheses are now
available to breast cancer survivors. The traditional school of
thought was that women should wear weighted silicone prostheses
similar in weight to the natural breast to give balance. Now,
however, new research and industry trends are showing that lighter
weight prostheses can benefit users from a medical standpoint as
well as providing greater comfort. For more information on this
timely topic, read "Lighter Breast Prostheses Equal Comfort,
Benefits".
AAA Riders Inspire Others
The "Amputees Across America" riders completed their epic
66-day, 4,700-mile journey August 6. You'll enjoy reading more
about their ride (which included ten skydives) in this month's
SALUTE!. Truly these riders have made a difference in the
lives of others. Congratulations to all of them! 
Table Of Contents - October 2004
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