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New Options Sports Finds Solutions
By Miki Fairley 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. |
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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!" 
Table Of Contents - September 2006
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