AAD Announcements

Advanced Arm Dynamics Develops All-New Silicone Skin Protection
for Upper Extremity Amputees

Redondo Beach, Ca – February 2009 – Advanced Arm Dynamics (AAD), the nation’s leading provider of upper extremity prosthetic rehabilitation introduced an all-new synthetic silicone skin protection for upper extremity amputees.

The state of the art skin protection provides amputees with a more comfortable fit along with a significant increase (up to 50 percent) in their range of motion.  The custom silicone skin protection eliminates the outside sleeve and creates an air tight seal.  The all-new skin protection was developed by a team of upper extremity specialists from Advanced Arm Dynamics including Chris Lake, CPO, FAAOP, Rob Dodson, CPO, Ryan Spill, CP and Dan Conyers, CPO.

“We heard from our patients that the liners they were wearing under their prosthesis were uncomfortable and not very stable.  So, as a team, we did a little testing and developed our own custom silicone skin protection specific for the upper extremity amputee.  These liners are secure, and provide a stable suspension for the patient.  Our patients have been very pleased with the fit and we continue to fine tune the process,” said Chris Lake, southwest clinical director for AAD.

One of the patients using the new skin protection is Jim Landrum, a 34 year old Missouri man.  Landrum was injured in a 2007 fireworks accident that claimed his left arm below the elbow.  “This liner seems like it is an attachment to my arm,” said Landrum.  “It doesn’t hinder my movements like before and now I am able to reach up above my head, take off my hat and put my shirt on.  It is so much more comfortable and the functionality is so much greater.”

“These new liners quite possibly could be fit for up to 90 percent of the upper extremity population.  Essentially, we provide a very intimate skin fit, like rolling on a second skin for protection of the person’s limb.  We combined the protective element with optimal suspension of the prosthesis,” said Rob Dodson, associate clinical specialist with AAD.

Advanced Arm Dynamics Adds Senior Justifications and Authorizations Coordinator to Expanding Team of Professionals

Redondo Beach, Ca 

Sept. 17, 2008 – Advanced Arm Dynamics (AAD), the nation’s leading provider of upper extremity prosthetic rehabilitation services announced the hiring of Carrie Johnson to its growing team of professionals.

Carrie Johnson joins AAD as the senior justifications and authorizations coordinator.  She will be overseeing the letter creation process and authorizations efforts between AAD and insurance companies for all of AAD’s Centers of Excellence.  Prior to working with AAD, Johnson worked as the Administrative Manager for the Upper Extremity Prosthetics Program for Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics in Anaheim, California for close to ten years.  Her responsibilities included acting as the internal liaison and coordinator between Hanger internal employees and patients to ensure all parties understood the authorization process.  She also managed the Inner Wheel Funding Program, a charitable organization for children in need of myoelectric prosthetic arms.

“Carrie’s experience and industry knowledge enhances our ability to provide our patients with the best authorization and justifications process possible,” said John Miguelez, president and senior clinical director of AAD.

Advanced Arm Dynamics Hires New Upper Extremity Specialist 

Redondo Beach, Ca – July 2008 – Advanced Arm Dynamics (AAD), the nation’s leading provider of upper extremity prosthetic rehabilitation services announced the addition of a new member to its growing team of professionals, Patrick Prigge, CP. 

Patrick Prigge, CP joins AAD as an upper extremity specialist focusing his efforts as the clinical upper extremity specialist at AAD of the Midwest. In addition, he will also spend time with the Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) team based in Washington, DC, providing care to American military personnel who have suffered the loss of a limb in combat. Previously, Prigge worked as the Director of Prosthetics Education for Otto Bock HealthCare in Minneapolis,Minnesota. His responsibilities included developing a team of prosthetists and occupational therapists dedicated to bridging the gap through education between fitting highly advanced new technologies by the prosthetist and full acceptance and usage by the end user. He also had responsibility for education content and strategy and was involved with product development. In addition to his time with Otto Bock HealthCare, Pat’s work experience includes working as a clinical prosthetist for both Hanger and Gillette Children’s Hospital. He received his post graduate certificate as a prosthetics technician and practitioner from Century College and earned his Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Biomedical Science from St. Cloud State University.

“We are thrilled to welcome Pat to the growing AAD family,” said John Miguelez, president and senior clinical director of AAD. “His addition to our team enhances our ability to provide our patients access to the best clinicians utilizing cutting edge technology and techniques.” 

About Advanced Arm Dynamics

Advanced Arm Dynamics, Inc. (AAD) is the nation’s leading provider of upper extremity prosthetic rehabilitation services. AAD empowers patients to return to work and lead active lifestyles by working with each patient throughout the fitting and rehabilitation process. The company’s services include state-of-the art technologies and techniques, rehabilitation planning, insurance justification and authorization negotiations, occupational therapy and psychological counseling and a patient-to-patient mentoring program. Advanced Arm Dynamics Centers of Excellence facilities are located in Texas, Iowa and Oregon. For additional information on Advanced Arm Dynamics, please visit our Web site at www.armdynamics.com.

New Site for Advanced Arm Dynamics

May 7, 2008 Advanced Arm Dynamics Inc. (AAD), Redondo Beach, California, a provider of upper-extremity prostheses, is opening a new site in Oregon focused solely on upper-extremity prosthetic rehabilitation. The site, called the Northwest Center of Excellence in Oregon, is located in Tigard, a suburb of Portland. The Oregon facility is the company's third and newest "Center of Excellence" nationwide, with other centers in Irving, Texas, and Waterloo, Iowa.

"It is an exciting time for Advanced Arm Dynamics, and we continue to grow and service patients all over the country," said MacJulian Lang, the company's northwest clinical director.

Advanced Arm Dynamics Hires Two

November 28, 2007 Advanced Arm Dynamics (AAD), Redondo Beach, California, announced the addition of two new members to its growing team of professionals.

Craig Jackman, CPO, FAAOP, joins AAD as an upper-extremity specialist focusing his time on the team based at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) in Washington DC. Jackman will provide care to American soldiers who have lost a limb in combat. Previously, Jackman worked as an upper-extremity specialist for Hanger Orthopedic Group. He received his certificate in O&P from the Newington Certificate program and earned a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Ryan Spill, CP, also joins AAD as an upper-extremity specialist and will work with the WRAMC team. Spill's previous experience included responsibilities as a clinical representative for Motion Control Inc. He received his prosthetic certificate from California State University, Dominguez Hills and a bachelor's degree in health sciences from Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania.

"It is an exciting time for AAD and our patients as two high-quality practitioners join our team," said John Miguelez, president and senior clinical director of AAD. "This addition to our team enhances the organization's ability to provide patients access to top clinicians utilizing cutting edge technology and techniques."

Writing the Textbook on Military Amputees: California Firm Advanced Arm Dynamics to Help Military Doctors Provide Improved Care to Soldiers who have Lost a Limb  

Septemer 27, 2007 REDONDO BEACH, Calif.-- The military textbook entitled “Care of the Combat Amputee” will help healthcare providers better understand the needs of soldiers who have lost a limb in combat. Scheduled for publication in 2008, the military textbook will give doctors, prosthetists, and occupational therapists the knowledge they need to serve this growing patient population. 

Helping in that effort is Advanced Arm Dynamics (AAD), one of the nation’s leading providers of upper extremity prostheses. Based in Redondo Beach, California, Advanced Arm Dynamics has been working with the Walter Reed Army Medical Center for over four years, providing upper extremity prosthetic care to more than 150 amputee soldiers. During that time, over 1,000 prostheses have been designed and fit for this challenging population.

Because of this extensive experience, AAD was invited to be among the national experts that will write sections of the new textbook. The chapter provided by AAD will focus on fitting techniques, procedures, new technologies and latest protocols followed at military hospitals such as Walter Reed. 

“We are proud to be part of this important effort to improve the care provided American soldiers who have suffered the loss of a limb in combat,” states AAD president and founder John Miguelez. “Our mission at AAD is to provide the best possible care to all our patients, including those injured in a work related accident or who are born with a congenital absence of a limb. The ability to be of service to injured soldiers is especially important to us,” he said. 

The team from Advanced Arm Dynamics that will be working on the textbook include John Miguelez, CP, FAOOP; Dan Conyers,CPO; MacJulian Lang,CPO; and Kristin Gulick,OTR/L,CHT.