News - December 2008
12/18/08 - Vasyli Medical Receives Medicare HCPCS Coding for Diabetic Foot Care
Vasyli-Armstrong® Footbed with patented GlideSoft® technology reduces shear pressure by 50% and risk of plantar ulcers by 70% in independent clinical trials.
SAN RAFAEL, CA (December 18, 2008)- Vasyli Medical, a leading global supplier of heat-moldable orthotics and orthotic footwear, has received HCPCS Coding approval for Medicare billing on the Vasyli-Armstrong diabetic footbed. Podiatrists and medical practitioners may now use code A5512 when dispensing the Vasyli-Armstrong customizable orthotic to their diabetic patients.
The new Vasyli-Armstrong orthotic footbed, featuring the innovative GlideSoft construction with Teflon and a unique combination of Plastazote® and EVA materials, moves with the plantar surface of the foot to dramatically help reduce shear and frictional forces. The reduction of shearing and pressure on the bottom of the foot greatly decreases the risk for skin lesions, ulceration and infection, all common diabetic foot complications which can lead to amputation. The footbeds wholesale for $34.95 a pair.
Vasyli Medical collaborated with Dr. David G. Armstrong, Professor of Surgery and Director of the Southern Arizona Limb Salvage Alliance (SALSA) at the University of Arizona, to develop the unique orthotic that directly addresses the key problem areas of the diabetic foot.
"Every 30 seconds, someone loses a leg to diabetes. In fact, more people now lose their legs due to diabetes than to landmines. The most common reason for a diabetic to be admitted to a hospital is for a foot problem. Wounds that get infected on the foot account for one-third of all diabetic hospitalizations," states Dr. Armstrong. "The Vasyli-Armstrong- footbed is the first scientifically and clinically-proven insole to address diabetic foot care and prevent skin irritation."
"This new orthotic footbed protects against plantar skin irritation by reducing the vertical force as well as the shear stress that people notice as causing blisters. It is an exciting combination that has never happened before," explains Armstrong, a member of the Vasyli Think Tank who also serves as co-director for theannual Global Diabetic Foot Conference. "A National Institute of Health-funded scientific study and an independent clinical trial suggest that the Vasyli-Armstrong insole reduces the risk of someone developing foot ulcers."
"Our patented GlideSoft technology and collaboration with Dr. David Armstrong combines the best in orthotic foot care for diabetics. This footbed also offers benefits to broader audiences such as athletes, arthritis sufferers and those with sensitive feet by helping to prevent plantar ulcers and foot pain while maintaining crucial mobility," said Phillip Vasyli, podiatrist and founder of the Vasyli brand. "Vasyli continues to build on over 25 years of product innovation and commitment to well-being with every step through collaborations with leading medical experts and developing technologies to make a big difference in people's lives."
Vasyli Medical now offers a full range of insoles including slim fit and performance construction, heat-moldable, customizable orthotics, a successful line of sandals and the Signature Series of product collaborations with leading medical experts for the U.S. market. Vasyli sells directly to podiatry practices and other medical practitioners. For more information and a complimentary sample of the new Vasyli-Armstrong footbeds, visit www.vasylimedical.com.
About Dr. David G. Armstrong, DPM, PhD
A member of the Vasyli Think Tank, Dr. David G. Armstrong currently serves as Professor of Surgery and Director of the Southern Arizona Limb Salvage Alliance (SALSA). His specialty is in the care of the diabetic foot and his ground-breaking research and clinical experience is recognized and acknowledged around the world. He is the youngest inductee ever into the American Podiatric Medical Association's Hall of Fame and was recently named Visiting Professor for the Cardiff University School of Medicine / Wound Healing Research Unit in the United Kingdom and at the University of Manchester College of Medicine. Dr. Armstrong's collaboration on the Vasyli-Armstrong orthotic heralds a commitment to research and product development aimed at improving prevention and treatment solutions for the diabetic foot.
Vasyli Medical Receives Medicare HCPCS Coding for Diabetic Foot Care
Vasyli International was founded in 1979 in Sydney, Australia, by Podiatrist Phillip J. Vasyli, who invented the Vasyli heat-moldable orthotic and dramatically changed the industry landscape. By reclaiming the natural footprint and realigning the foot and ankle, Vasyli custom orthotics, pre-fabricated footbeds and orthotic footwear aid dynamic foot function and help relieve common biomechanical complaints. Today, Vasyli Medical has become the global market leader in supplying orthotic treatment solutions to health professionals in Europe, Asia Pacific and North America. To learn more, visit www.vasylimedical.com.
Vasyli Medical Receives Medicare HCPCS Coding for Diabetic Foot Care
- Glidesoft Scientific Study, by Lavery et al, 2005, funded by NIH grant 1R44DK55909-0.
- Glidesoft Clinical Trial, evaluated with Cox Regression model to evaluate time to ulceration.
12/08/08 - Vasyli Medical's Foot Orthoses Superior to Flat Inserts for Knee Pain Relief
Randomised Clinical Trial in British Medical Journal Reveals Benefit of Prescribing Pre-fabricated Orthotics to Improve Patellofemoral Pain Management.
(SAN RAFAEL, CA--December 1, 2008) Pre-fabricated foot orthoses were shown to be superior to flat inserts in short-term improvement of patellofemoral (knee) pain. The randomised clinical trial (BMJ 2008;337:a1735, B. Vicenzino et al.) conducted by Professor Bill Vicenzino, Director of the Physiotherapy Division at University of Queensland's School of Rehabilitation and Health Sciences in Brisbane, Australia, concluded that prefabricated foot orthoses are therapeutically beneficial in short-term pain management.
The study test groups included those using Vasyli Medical foot orthoses, a group using the flat inserts (placebo), a group using multi-modal physiotherapy and a group using a combination of physiotherapy and foot orthoses to total 179 participants, aged 18 to 40 years, with clinical diagnoses of patellofemoral pain.
Participants were evaluated over a 52-week period and all groups showed long-term improvement in patellofemoral pain management with no significant differences, although statistics for the combination of physiotherapy and foot orthoses suggest an opportunity to hasten recovery. At six weeks, the participant group using the Vasyli Medical foot orthoses experienced superior levels of knee pain relief when compared to the placebo group using flat inserts.
The Clinical Trial was published in an October 2008 issue of the British Medical Journal. Professor Vicenzino is a member of the Vasyli Think Tank and Vasyli Medical provided both the orthoses and flat inserts used in the study. (Access full study results here)
About Vasyli Medical: Vasyli International was founded in 1979 in Sydney, Australia, by Podiatrist Phillip J. Vasyli, who invented the Vasyli heat-moldable orthotic and dramatically changed the industry landscape. By reclaiming the natural footprint and realigning the foot and ankle, Vasyli custom orthotics, pre-fabricated footbeds and orthotic footwear aid dynamic foot function and help relieve common biomechanical complaints. Today, Vasyli Medical has become the global market leader in supplying orthotic treatment solutions to health professionals in Europe, Asia Pacific and North America. To learn more, visit http://www.vasylimedical.com.
Media Contact:
Tracey Trumbo
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