| The Journal Record Article |
 Health Care Stepping in
June 3, 2009 TULSA – A new rehabilitation aid designed to help put on and take off shoes is available to the public. The Shoe and Boot Valet is a tool that helps people with limited mobility put on and take off footwear without having to bend and reach. The device is marketed toward people who have difficulty handling footwear because of acute or chronic pain conditions. “A lot of those people want to be independent,” said Steven Bussell, vice president of operations for IDL, Inc. “This gives them back their independence.” Tulsa-based IDL, Inc. began the Shoe and Boot Valet project five years ago. Trent Morris, president of IDL, Inc., started the company in 2004. Shoe and Boot Valet is the first device created by the company, which manufactures and markets assisted-living devices. In early 2000, Morris came across the rehabilitation aid for mobility in prototype form. That prototype was insufficient because it was made out of iron, he said. As a veteran paratrooper, Morris said he saw how wounded soldiers and veterans would benefit from such a device, so Morris chose to invest his own money in research to create a better product. Morris said it wasn’t an easy process to turn the design into reality. Constant tweaking of the project and leadership changes delayed the product. “It was very difficult to put together and required a tremendous amount of money,” he said. “But eventually, it all came around and together.” To date, investment for the project is more than $1.5 million.
Orthopedic surgeon Bryan Hawkins said that when he first saw the tool, he thought it would be perfect for patients dealing with hip replacement surgery. Once patients undergo hip surgery, their bending movement is temporarily restricted. These patients typically must have someone help them with everyday activities such as putting on shoes and socks. “It can help reduce pain associated with the movements required for daily living,” said Hawkins, with Central States Orthopedic Specialists in Tulsa. “I could see this having heavy application in the medical world.” The product could become a tool for the patient who has become wheelchair bound, he said. It’s intended for use in the home, outpatient rehabilitation clinics and assisted-living settings. Since launching the Shoe and Boot Valet, Bussell said, they have hired distributors across the country. The product has gained worldwide attention, with clients in places such as Australia and Canada. Next on the agenda for the company is to release the Sock Valet, which will help put on and take off socks, using mechanics similar to the Shoe and Boot Valet. Morris said the company will continue to develop devices that will help people with limited mobility. “People want assisted-living devices to remain as independent for as long as possible,” he said. “These devices allow them to do that.” |