Kiwi invention helps get All White to S.A.

Kiwi invention helps get All White to S.A.

The fact that Tim Brown was able to get on a plane to South Africa this morning is due in no small part to the skills of his surgeon and the player’s recuperative powers.

But there is another element to the All Whites vice-captain’s ability to take the field at the 2010 World Cup – a New Zealand-developed shoulder brace.

The neoprene brace is made by Flawless Motion Ltd in Auckland and is designed to stabilise Brown’s injury even in the heat of a World Cup football game.

While Brown’s recovery has been remarkable, his surgeon suggested he contact physiotherapist Margie Olds to supply him with a shoulder brace

The brace provides support to Brown’s shoulder by compressing his skin and muscles and provides increased awareness of his shoulder to aid his recovery. Straps can also be applied to the brace to limit motion, as his shoulder continues to heal.

The lightweight instability shoulder brace supports the shoulder while limiting overheating common in most neoprene supports. It’s made from perforated rubber backed neoprene and designed to fully encompass the shoulder and trunk.

“The mesh inserts wick away the sweat, keeping the athlete cool during sporting activity,” says Olds. “The strap placement provides control of shoulder position while also limiting shoulder range of movement.”

Olds specialises in shoulder rehabilitation and her braces are in use in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the USA and the UK.

“It was great to hear that Tim got on the plane this morning – not only for New Zealand’s world cup hopes but also for the fact that our brace is going to be seen by some of the globe’s best soccer players,” Olds says.

Olds designed the product in 2006 for patients who required additional support following shoulder dislocations and wanted to return to sport.

Olds had worked in the UK with professional canoeists and back in New Zealand found there were limited shoulder braces available here so she set about making one to her own design.

The Olds design is now the only shoulder brace available worldwide in a bilateral and ladies version and is commonly used to support a dislocating or unstable shoulder.

ENDS

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