More than 70 lower limb amputees from around the world gathered at a clinic organized by Össur and the Challenged Athletes Foundation, according to a press release.
Hosted in San Diego, the Össur Running and Mobility Clinic presented by Challenged Athletes Foundation aimed to provide a safe space for people with lower limb loss to participate in drills and exercises. The event was offered at no cost and catered to people all ages and skill levels.
Images: Challenged Athletes Foundation.
Robert Gaily, PhD, PT, and Peter Harsch, CP, coached new and experienced amputees in running and mobility. Lessons ranged from learning how to walk again, to fine-tuning their speed in sprinting. Attendees were from the United States and from other countries, such as Brazil, Australia and the United Kingdom.
Also in attendance was 10-year-old Joel “Diego” Mercado, winner of Össur’s second #MyWinningMoment contest. Mercado, born with congenital limb loss of his left leg and most of the fingers on his left hand, submitted a winning video showing himself working out with Marine Sergeant Jose Luis Sanchez. During the video, Sanchez and Mercado flip a tire several times larger than Mercado.
Challenged Athletes Foundation [CAF] athletes and Össur ambassadors, including Jami Marseilles, the first female bilateral amputee to complete the Chicago and Boston marathons; Mike Coots, a professional surfer who lost his leg in a shark attack; Paralympic snowboarder Nicole Roundy; and Sarah Reinertsen, the first female amputee to finish the Kona Ironman World Championship, attended the event and helped mentor the participants.
“Össur is pleased to have partnered with the CAF over the past 2 decades, and to offer clinics like this one across the United States,” Kim De Roy, CPO/PT, vice president of sales, marketing and education at Prosthetics for Össur Americas, said in a press release. “As a company, we are dedicated to continuously innovating so that more people like Diego may enjoy life without limitations.”
- References:
- www.challengedathletes.org
- www.ossur.com
