Elevate Movement

Denise Grunewald has been a patient of Certified Orthotist Andrea Pavlik for more than 10 years. Denise was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease more than 25 years ago, resulting in a bilateral drop foot. Since working with Andrea, Denise has started to use bilateral, carbon-fiber, ankle-foot orthoses (AFO). For the past 10 years, Denise has been unable to walk barefoot or go without her braces. When we partnered with Elevate Movement, Andrea knew Denise would be a great candidate for the Sstep drop-foot sock. Sstep functions like an orthotic -- worn like a sock and with or without shoes. It features an innovative support mechanism that is designed to gently lift the drop foot to avoid stubbing toes, stumbles and falls while walking. Denise jumped at the chance to try the Sstep. With Andrea's help navigating the new device, Denise has been able to walk without her braces and barefoot! By using innovative devices and partnering with companies like Elevate Movement we can provide next-level care to our patients.

Celebrating Elevate Movement's Sstep Every day that I wear my Sstep AFO sock I am in disbelief.?Who would have ever thought that this could, this would work? I’ve written posts describing how my jumpy legs have calmed down after wearing the Sstep.?But my toes are also now starting to change!! For some reason, my toes would tend to curl as I walk or stand.?But when I use my Sstep, they behave.?And after using the Sstep for a few months, when I momentarily switch over to a different (non-footplate) option, they still behave. How do I know this is because of the Sstep? Recently I had the opportunity to try an AFO for drop foot that can also help align the knee to minimize hyperextension.?The AFO had a footplate.?I do not know what kind of warning alert goes off in my brain, but as soon as I stood up, my toes must have been scared and they curled. I had to sit back down and I tried very hard to get my brain to tell my toes to straighten, but they would not.?I removed my shoe, removed the AFO, and THEN my toes uncurled.?I just find it so odd that the footplate had this curling effect on my toes, yet the Sstep has never caused this.?What kind of magic is built into this sock? While I do not think calm legs and straight toes were on their minds when they came up with the Sstep, I truly believe that Elevate Movement must have been studying the mechanics of life when they came up with it. What other SINGLE existing device can take on ALL the activities in this scenario…… ?? You’re staying at a beachfront resort?You arrive late but there was time for a mojito (or 2).?Then you go to bed.?The Sstep is a comfortable sock that you can wear to bed.?Good thing.?You awaken because you have to pee (mojito before bed, what were you thinking?).?But there is no danger when you leave the bed because you are wearing your Sstep. In the morning you can go from bed to beach into the crystal blue waters.?Again, still wearing the Sstep.?No need to switch to a different device.?After spending the day on the beach, you walk back to the resort and take a shower.?What?!?! Yes, you can also shower with the Sstep. ??? Are you convinced??Is there any other device that can do all that??WOOOOHOOOO! With the Sstep, not only do I have a calm leg and happy toes, but I also take comfort in knowing that this magical, powerful sock will be there for my everyday activities of life. ?? Thank you, thank you, thank you Elevate Movement!! Cheers!!!!! ?? ?? ?? AFO = ankle foot orthosis Picture Descriptions: First:?This is me, Dee, and this pic was taken about 25ish years ago. I was not trying to fly, not trying to touch the ocean, I just knew all those years ago, I should cheer and celebrate the future Sstep!?Yippee!!! Second:?This is Kristjan and he is wading in the water wearing his Sstep.?While the Sstep looks like it might be made out of Neoprene, it is not.?It is made out of breathable satiny soft material. #dropfoot #AFO

The Best After posting a list of unique drop foot solutions, a few people have contacted me to ask me if I have a favorite solution. The answer is ABSOLUTELY yes!!! My favorite, for drop foot, without hesitation is the Sstep from Elevate Movement! This is unlike anything I had ever seen or could imagine. I believe and have always said that no single device can work for every occasion or all daily activities, but I've been using it for over 2 months now and I haven't found a single thing I cannot do. Plus, it is the ONLY solution I have that... ?? Works with ALL of my crazy slippers! ?? Is soft ?? Is comfortable, so comfortable that I can wear it to bed to avoid unwanted "trips" when nature calls ?? It calms my restless leg AND ?? It can be worn in the shower and pool ?? It's adjustable So there you have it, my favorite! I hope everyone can find a favorite solution to meet their needs in the coming year. Happy 2025! WOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Cold feet and AFO’s I am soooooooooo excited!!!?I have been wearing AFO’s since 2012 and this is the FIRST winter that I have an AFO that is compatible with my slippers!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!! I know that I keep writing about the S step AFO from Elevate Movement, but this is so unbelievable!!! I've never had an AFO that I could wear with slippers. Sure, I probably could've used my carbon fiber AFO with slippers, but that would not be comfortable (or warm) at all. But the S step is a sock type AFO and you can feel the ground or a cushioned slipper the same as any other type sock. But it is a magical sock that lifts my foot, keeping me from tripping. With the temperatures continuing to drop, my cold feet need help. I have a new pair of sloth slippers.?These things are over an inch thick around on the side keeping my cold feet toasty!!!?Plus, the bottoms are maybe a couple inches of soft cushy foam.?I think I’m taller now because I spotted a few places that need a bit of dusting.?Oops. Picture descriptions: A transformation from cold feet to HAPPY smiling feet with my new sloth slippers. I am wearing the S step on my left foot. Awwww, so cute!

NAAOP is pleased to announce that Jenna Calomeris, Vice President, Sales and National Accounts for Elevate Movement, was recently elected to our Board of Directors. Ann Leimkuehler Moss, President of NAAOP, said, “We are excited to welcome Jenna Calomeris to NAAOP’s board. She will be a great addition with her demonstrated passion for promoting public policy for O&P.”

Nu ?r vi s? d?r glada igen och kan presentera ?nnu ett samarbete vi ?r stolta ?ver! ?? Tillsammans med Elevate Movement kan vi nu erbjuda Norden en ny serie Droppfots ortoser som levereras i universalstorlek i h?ger och v?nster och anpassas enkelt f?r storlek och individuell passform.??? F?rst ut ?r FreeFlow! ?? Du kan l?sa mer om FreeFlow h?r --> https://lnkd.in/dPyUUcRY #droppfot #elevatemovement #embreis #boa #afo #dropfoot #footdrop #nationalfootdropawarenessday?#footdrop??#footdropsolution?#footdropdoesntstopme

Finding Compatible AFO’s and KO’s I’m not a fan of the extremely limited options offered from a KAFO, so I opt to pair 2 devices for my drop foot and hyper-extended knee. I am really really enjoying my Sstep sock for managing my drop foot.?I got it (last month) as the temperatures began to drop.?I have had drop foot since 2012, and this will be the FIRST winter since before drop foot that I will be able to walk safely in my home wearing my choice of slippers, fuzzy socks, or a combination of both! WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO!!!! I still haven’t found anything that will completely solve my hyper-extended knee while also providing mobility.?I decided to prioritize mobility while getting some protection for my knee. At the beginning of September I bought a Neo-G hinged brace. At first I was concerned that the “one size fits most” was a tad too big for me.?While not compromising the fit, there were gaps above and below the top and bottom straps. But that is turning out to be a good thing!?The gap at the bottom of my knee brace?creates the perfect amount of space for the top part of my Sstep.?And now I’m wearing sweatpants to keep warm. I have NEVER been able to wear sweatpants with a knee brace.?My custom knee braces were not very size adjustable and were made to be placed directly around my knee.?I was never able to pull up my sweatpants over these knee braces because of the bulk and the Velcro catching on the fabric. Because the Neo-G brace has a more adjustable type fit, I am able to wear it OVER my sweatpants! ?Another first this winter! Being able to wear a knee brace AND sweatpants! Holy cow!! WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO!!!! These 2 braces are working out to be a perfect solution for me.?Getting around SAFELY and comfortably in my home wearing slippers and sweatpants is FINALLY possible! These 2 braces get along great! AFO = ankle foot orthosis KO = knee orthosis KAFO = knee ankle foot orthosis Elevate Movement is the company that makes the Sstep and Neo G is the company that makes the hinged knee brace. Picture Descriptions: The Sstep sock.?Yes, a soft comfortable SOCK that not only solves my drop foot, helps keep my balance, calms my nightly muscle spasms and overactive nerves, while still allowing my foot to move naturally. A front view of my 2 braces. The Sstep sock is black and the knee brace is blue. I’m wearing a pair of black slip on shoes.?The bottom of the Neo-G brace makes a perfect fit over the top part of the Sstep. A close up of the front view showing where the two braces meet.?The gap at the bottom of the knee brace is the perfect size to accommodate the top of the Sstep. A close up of the side view showing the area where the 2 braces meet. Notice the hinges of the knee brace are surrounded by extra padded material. A close up showing the top of my knee brace.?The gap is small, but works out because the extra room allows me to wear this brace over my sweatpants!

Kim De Roy is here at AMRPA’S 2024 Fall Educational Conference & Expo discussing a novel biomechanics approach in foot and ankle stabilization with the goal of advancing patient mobility post-stroke. #AMRPAFall24?