Customized Children's Prosthetic Care

• Helping kids be kids
• Kid-to-kid support
• Team-focused evaluations
• Customized fitting process
• State-of-the-art technologies
• Timely on-site fabrication
• Ongoing care and maintenance
• Client information

"On our first visit [to Next Step] we met with Peter Couture and his staff. We immediately felt at home, and after Peter's initial evaluation of Andrew, he was confident that he could help…. When Andrew had his first set of prosthetics made at Next Step, they made him part of the process, explaining what they were doing and even taking Andrew out back where they actually made his legs so he could see how it was done. I remember the smile on Andrew's face when he first tried his new legs. After a few adjustments, he was walking around, running and jumping - it was like a miracle."
Rebecca Bateson
Mother of 16-year-old Andrew, bilateral amputee

Read more about Andrew's story…

"Next Step has been wonderful. When Chris tried to do an aerial when skateboarding, he said the angle of his foot wasn't right. He asked his prosthetist to slant it out and he did. Next Step has been so good at helping Chris do all the things he wants to do."
Sandy McLaughlin
Mother of 20-year-old Christopher, Symes amputee

Read more about Christopher's story…

Helping kids be kids
We think it's important for kids to be able to be kids and take part in any activity, even if they wear a prosthesis. Many of our young clients lead very active lives. They downhill ski, skateboard, figure skate, and play hockey, soccer and basketball, and participate in a host of other activities.

See our Client Stories and Clients in Action video clips to learn about some of the amazing activities our young clients participate in.

Making children feel comfortable and at home is an important part of our philosophy. This is evident as soon as you enter our Manchester facility, which features a specially painted rain forest play area and under-the-sea fitting room. Parents tell us that their children look forward to visiting our inviting kids' areas and interacting with our fun-loving staff.

Read about our children's play area and treatment room, published in O & P Edge magazine and Youth in Motion. (Click to download a PDF version)

We invite you to visit us for a pre- or post-surgical consultation to talk with us, tour our facility and see our philosophy in action. Throughout the process, we work closely with the entire family because we understand that if a young member of the family wears a prosthesis, involving and supporting the entire family is important.

Our consultations are comprehensive, informative and provided at no cost.

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Kid-to-kid support
For children who have lost a limb or will be undergoing amputation, talking with other children who have gone through the experience can be very helpful. We can arrange calls or visits with our other young clients to discuss amputation and life with a prosthesis.

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Team-focused evaluations
An evaluation begins by listening to a child about the activities he or she wants to pursue. Our focus is helping the child reach these goals…and more. We also involve parents in the evaluation process as they know their child best and can provide valuable input.

Several of our practitioners may participate in the evaluation process to determine the most effective prosthesis for a child's needs and activities. Our amputees on staff serve as important role models as they talk honestly with children about the challenges and tremendous successes they can achieve with their prosthesis.

The child's physical therapist may also be consulted during the evaluation process to answer questions and receive training, as well as provide input to maximize the child's potential with the prosthesis.

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Customized fitting process
Following the evaluation, our team of practitioners follows a customized fitting process that utilizes a casting process and specialized fitting techniques that are unique in the prosthetics industry.

A major difference in our fitting process is our use of a clear diagnostic socket, sometimes called a "glass slipper." Using a clear socket ensures a better fit, even before the prosthesis is fabricated. We make as many clear sockets as needed to guarantee a well-fitting prosthesis.

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State-of-the-art technologies
To help our clients of all ages achieve their goals, we are involved in the research and development of prosthetic components and technologies. Our involvement allows us to beta-test products to ensure their function and durability, and provide our clients with access to the latest prosthetic technologies.

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Timely on-site fabrication
With an on-site fabrication lab, we have complete control over the fabrication process from start to finish. Our practitioners can also show our technicians the exact adjustments to be made during a fitting, so fine-tuning happens quickly. As a result, clients are able to leave our office with a comfortable, well-fitting prosthesis.

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Ongoing care and maintenance
Following a prosthetic fitting, a visit for follow-up care may be necessary to recheck the fit, function and range of motion. We encourage a child's parents to call us immediately if they have questions or their child has problems with the prosthesis, as waiting may make the situation more difficult to resolve.

Every six months, we evaluate the prosthesis to ensure optimal fit and function. Minor adjustments are made in the interim, if needed, to allow for a child's growth. The goal is full-time wearing of the prosthesis in total comfort.

We encourage children and their families to check the residual limb daily for skin irritation or calluses that may indicate the prosthesis no longer fits properly. A daily check of the prosthetic components is also recommended. If a prosthetic device is not working properly, contact us immediately.

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Client information sheets
Download our privacy policy, orthotic or prosthetic instruction sheets and other forms from our Client Information area.

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© 2004 Next Step Orthotics and Prosthetics, Inc. All Rights Reserved